David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 544: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of Reserve Defence Forces personnel that attended paid training in 2009 and to date in 2010 respectively; the number of recruits enlisted in the RDF in 2009 and to date in 2010; the number that were awarded a gratuity in 2009 and to date in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37551/10]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The number of Reserve Defence Force (RDF) personnel who undertook paid training, the number recruited and the number paid a gratuity for 2009 and 2010 are as follows.

* Gratuities are normally paid at year end

The budgetary provision for paid training in 2010 is €2.478 million. This will provide for approximately 31,000 paid training man-days and is sufficient to ensure that all active members of the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve are afforded the opportunity to avail of paid training this year.

Based on a review and examination of RDF personnel numbers and budgets, limited recruitment to fill vacancies that may arise due to existing members resigning or being discharged in the normal manner was approved in 2009. This recruitment is ongoing subject to the total strength not exceeding the level at 1 January 2009.

The Director of Reserve Forces manages the allocation of recruits across the formations within approved levels. The Director has agreed criteria for the selection of each recruit intake and this ongoing limited recruitment is being closely monitored and will be kept under review in the light of the uptake of paid training and the future budgetary provision available to the Department of Defence.

The terms and conditions for receipt of gratuities provides for a phased increase in gratuities linked to specified training levels with a minimum aggregate of seven days paid training and the completion of specified voluntary training. There is also a requirement for members to have a minimum of one year's service prior to being eligible for receipt of a gratuity.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 545: To ask the Minister for Defence the cost of the Reserve Defence Forces in 2009 and to date in 2010 under the various subheads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37552/10]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Subhead D of the Defence Vote includes payments for Reserve Defence Force (RDF), training, gratuities, allowances and also includes grants paid into unit funds. The cost of the RDF as charged to Subhead D for 2009 was €6,651,284. The provision for 2010 is €4,700,000 and expenditure to the end of September 2010 was €2,782,866. The following table shows other costs relating to the RDF as charged to the Defence Vote for each period. The full cost of PDF personnel who provide training and administrative support to the RDF, known as the Cadre, are shown under Subheads B, C and P. The table also shows the rental cost of property used by the RDF as charged to Subhead R.

* Estimated cost to end of August 2010, based pro rata on cost for 2009 and adjusted to take account of year on year reduction in the number of PDF Cadre personnel.

As the RDF is an integral part of the Defence Force a range of costs, other than those outlined above, are spread across other Subheads of the Defence Vote. These costs, which include Petrol, Transport, Rations etc, are not currently disaggregated for the RDF.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 546: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will provide details of each member of the steering committee that is overseeing the value for money review of the Reserve Defence Forces; when this steering committee was established; the number of times this committee has met to date and the duration of each meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37553/10]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The VFM review of the Reserve Defence Force, which was selected for review as part of the 2009 – 2011 phase of the Government's Value for Money and Policy Review initiative, commenced in February 2010. A Steering Committee comprising representatives from the Department of Defence, the Defence Forces and the Department of Finance was formed. In accordance with revised guidelines for the conduct of Value for Money Reviews, an independent chair was appointed to the Steering Committee. Details of the members of the Steering Committee are set out in Table 1 below.

The Steering Committee has met on five occasions since the review commenced and a further meeting was scheduled for today. The approximate duration of the meetings that have taken place up to today are set out in Table 2 below. A Working Group, comprising of both civil and military personnel, was also formed to assist the Steering Committee with the review. The working group has undertaken an extensive programme of work under the direction of the Steering Committee over this period.

The review will examine the progress that was made with the RDF Review Implementation Plan and make recommendations aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the Reserve. As part of the review process, the Steering Committee have established an appropriate consultative mechanism for all key stakeholders including the representative associations who have already provided written submissions and met with the Steering Committee.

It is expected that the findings of the Value For Money review, including the lessons learned from the RDF Review Implementation Plan process, will complement the development of the new White Paper.

Table 1 - Details of members of the Steering Committee

Table 2 - Details of Steering Committee meetings that have taken place up to date

*Includes visit by Steering Committee members to an RDF annual training camp.

**Includes consultation meetings with PDFORA, RACO and RDFRA