Written answers

Thursday, 15 December 2011

Department of Justice, Equality and Defence

Defence Forces Reserve

5:00 pm

Photo of Joanna TuffyJoanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 262: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on the Army Reserve and Naval Reserve; the current numbers of reservists; if there is a recommended number; his plans to allow recruitment to the Army Reserve and Naval Reserve, to give persons an opportunity to make a contribution to our country, and to obtain valuable experience particularly when unemployment is high; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40529/11]

Photo of Alan ShatterAlan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The establishment versus the current strengths (as of 31 October 2011) for the Reserve are contained in the attached table. The number of personnel that can be recruited to the Army Reserve and the Naval Service Reserve is dependent on the level of funding available for training.

The level of resourcing available for Defence has reduced significantly over recent years. The funds available for paid training days for members of the Reserve have been cut from €4.96 million in 2009 to €2.48 million in 2011. This provided for approximately 30,000 paid training man-days in 2011.

These paid training days provided targeted development training for existing members of the Reserve including career courses and skills courses.

In addition, it was possible to provide for the training of 200 new recruits to the RDF in 2011. This level of recruitment was agreed in consultation with the Military Authorities, having regard to the requirement to maintain the existing capabilities of the Reserve to the greatest extent possible.

The number of personnel that may be recruited in the coming year or future years has not been determined as yet. Officials from the Department are due to meet with the Acting Director of Reserve Forces in the coming week to discuss the training priorities within the Reserve over the coming year and to determine the level of recruitment that can be accommodated within the available resource envelope.

EstablishmentStrength(31/10/2011)
Army Reserve *9292 *5133
Naval Service Reserve400228
Total:9,6925361

* There is an additional establishment of 55 personnel in the Reserve Defence Force Training Authority.

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