Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Defence the criteria used when deciding the Reserve Defence Force bases that would be removed as opposed to those that would be retained under the value for money review of the Reserve Defence Force and reorganisation of the Reserve Defence Force; the reason it has been proposed to remove the base from Clonmel, a town with such a rich military history; if he will consider reviewing this decision based on his plans for the future uses of Kickham Barracks in Clonmel where a perfectly suitable base could be provided for the RDF alongside the Clonmel Garda Station and where the RDF would not require rental of another premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52841/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The report of the VFM Review of the Reserve Defence Force, which was recently published, concluded that the current Reserve organisation was not fit for purpose and required radical reform. The current effective strength of the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve at 4,500 personnel is less than half that for which the organisational structures were designed. The Permanent Defence Force (PDF) support framework for the Reserve was, therefore, inefficient and the retention of the numbers of full time PDF personnel assigned to Reserve duties was no longer sustainable within a strength ceiling of 9,500 PDF personnel.

A central recommendation from the VFM Steering Committee is for the retention of the Reserve with 4,000 personnel spread countrywide, based in PDF barracks and in 16 other locations. This requires the consolidation of existing Reserve Units throughout the country into a smaller number of full-strength Units. I accepted the Steering Committee’s recommendations. I also accepted the consequent proposals for new organisational structures submitted jointly by the Chief of Staff and the Secretary General. These proposals had due regard to capability requirements and the retention of a broad geographic spread.

A new “Single Force” concept will see PDF Units having Reserve components, rather than a separate stand-alone Reserve as at present. Reserve Units within barracks will be supported by their parent PDF Unit and the 16 Units outside of PDF installations will be supported by dedicated full time PDF personnel.

The fact that Clonmel was not selected is not a negative reflection on the quality or participation of the Reserve Unit in Clonmel, but reflects that it is not possible to retain all current locations. I sincerely hope that members of the Reserve in Clonmel will continue to serve in an alternative Reserve Unit in another location and re-training will be available in that regard.