Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 214: To ask the Minister for Defence the position in relation to persons (details supplied); when they will be attested. [20515/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Government introduced a moratorium on recruitment to the Public Service with effect from 27 March 2009 and the Defence Organisation is required to operate with reduced funding for 2009. In this context, all recruitment to the Reserve Defence Force was suspended. It is important that we continue to provide appropriate opportunities for paid training to all members of the Reserve to the greatest extent possible within the current budgetary provisions. The first priority is to consolidate the gains that have been made over recent years in developing the Reserve. Yesterday (19 May) I announced the re-commencement of limited recruitment to the Reserve so as to replace existing members who leave during the course of 2009.

Many of those individuals who have already applied to join the RDF and who are awaiting attestation, may be attested into the RDF as vacancies arise in the various Brigades. The numbers recruited will depend on the number leaving. This limited recruitment will be monitored and kept under review in the light of the uptake of paid training within the RDF and the future budgetary provision.