David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 64: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will provide a national breakdown of the effective strength of the Defence Forces Reserve per unit and per rank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30195/10]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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A national breakdown of the effective strength of the Reserve Defence Force per rank is provided in the following table. A breakdown per unit is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it becomes available.

I am aware that effective numbers in the Reserve have declined over recent years. The total strength of the Reserve includes personnel who are categorised as effective and non-effective. As provided for in Defence Forces Regulation R5, personnel are removed from the effective strength of their Units and are placed on the non-effective list primarily for failure to meet minimum training requirements. These personnel remain liable for call out on permanent service or service in Aid to the Civil Power. Since 2004, with the role of the RDF Review Implementation Plan, the military authorities have increased their efforts to ensure that only those members who meet the requirements remain on the effective list. This accounts for part of the fall in numbers over recent years.

Limited recruitment into the RDF is continuing subject to the overall strength level that existed at 1 January 2009 (7,671) not being exceeded. The limited recruitment will also be monitored and kept under review in the light of the uptake of paid training within the RDF and the future budgetary provision available to the Department. There is now a requirement to examine the progress that has been made and to chart the future direction of the Reserve. Work has commenced on a Value for Money Review of the Reserve and the findings of this Review, together with the lessons learned from the Implementation Plan to date, will inform the future plans for the Reserve.