David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 14: To ask the Minister for Defence if he has given any consideration to allowing members of the Reserve Defence Force to serve overseas in specialist roles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31561/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The deployment of Reservists on overseas peace support missions was envisaged in the Reserve Defence Force Review Implementation Plan. As part of the plan it was intended to send a small number of reservists, with specific skills, overseas. These were to be drawn from those who had undertaken integrated training, which was to be further supplemented by extensive pre-deployment training. Planning to send a small number of Reservists overseas was at an advanced stage but subsequently suspended due to a moratorium on recruitment to the PDF and other financial constraints. Subsequently, the number of Permanent Defence Force personnel serving overseas was reduced.

There are currently no plans to send members of the Reserve overseas. A Value for Money review of the Reserve Defence Force is underway. This review is examining the progress made under the Reserve Defence Force Review Implementation Plan and will bring forward recommendations for the future development of the Reserve Defence Force.