Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 113: To ask the Minister for Defence the current strength of the Air Corps, male and female, all ranks; the degree to which this is sufficient to meet all eventualities in the short and medium term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31725/11]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 114: To ask the Minister for Defence the current strength of the Naval Service, male and female, all ranks; the degree to which this is sufficient to meet all eventualities in the short and medium term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31726/11]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 115: To ask the Minister for Defence the current strength of the army, male and female, all ranks; the degree to which this is sufficient to meet all eventualities in the short and medium term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31727/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 to 115, inclusive, together.

I am advised by the Military authorities that the total strength of the Defence Forces at 30 September 2011, the latest date for which figures are available was 9,458, comprising 7,666 Army, 784 Air Corps and 1,008 Naval Service personnel. A comprehensive breakdown of the total strength of each branch of the Defence Forces across all ranks by gender, is provided in the attached tabular statement.

I am advised that the Defence Forces retain the capacity to undertake the tasks laid down by Government both at home and overseas. I have also made it clear that I will endeavour to ensure that the Defence Forces are organised, equipped and staffed so that they retain the operational capability to deliver the services required of them by the Government.

The Government is currently undertaking a Comprehensive Review of Expenditure and my Department has submitted a report as part of that process. The Government's decisions arising from the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure will further inform the resource envelope available for Defence over the coming years and the priorities within Defence. Delivering public services within a reduced resource envelope is a key challenge facing the entire public service.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 116: To ask the Minister for Defence the current strength of the Defence Forces Reserve, Army, Naval Service and Air Corps; the degree to which the numbers have fluctuated in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31728/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the military authorities that the strength of the Army Reserve and the Naval Service Reserve at 30 September 2011, the latest date for which figures are available, was 5,362. There were 5,107 personnel in the Army Reserve, 31 personnel in the Reserve Defence Force Training Academy and 224 personnel in the Naval Service Reserve. The strength of the Army Reserve and the Naval Service Reserve at 31 December in each of the years 2006-2010 is contained in the table.

I am aware that the 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. The number of personnel recruited to the Army Reserve and the Naval Service Reserve is dependent on funding being available for training. The Deputy will appreciate that there would be little point recruiting personnel if it is not feasible to provide for their training. The funds available for paid training days have reduced from €4.96 million in 2009 to €2.48 million in 2011. This allows for the recruitment of 200 recruits in 2011 whilst providing training for existing members of the Reserve (based on uptake of paid training over recent years).

This level of recruitment was agreed with the Military Authorities, having regard to the requirement to maintain the existing capabilities of the Reserve to the greatest extent possible.

The Deputy will be aware that there is a Value for Money Review of the Reserve Defence Force ongoing along with a Comprehensive Review of Expenditure (CRE). The resource envelope within which the Defence Organisation will have to operate from will be determined as a result of the CRE process. This will in turn impact upon the resources available to the Reserve. Any options/recommendations arising from the Value for Money Review report will have to be considered with due regard to the available resource envelope following the CRE.