Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 308: To ask the Minister for Defence the strength of the Army Reserve, including Naval Service and Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30750/10]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the Military authorities that the strength of the Reserve Defence Force as at 31 May 2010, the latest date for which figures are available, was 6,200, comprising 5,934 Army Reserve and 266 Naval Reserve.

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.

I am aware that numbers in the Reserve have declined over recent years. This trend in reduced volunteerism is not confined to the Reserve but is indicative of broader societal trends. It should also be noted that a more rigorous approach is now taken to removing the names of non-effective personnel from unit rolls. This accounts for part of the fall in numbers over recent years.

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.