Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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135. To ask the Minister for Defence the extent to which the Army Reserve Force has fluctuated in strength over the past five years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47398/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The military authorities have informed me that while the re-organisation of the Reserve Defence Force following publication of the Value For Money (VFM) Review is at an advanced stage of implementation, it is not yet fully complete. Re-assignment offers have been made to individual members. However, members have the right to appeal these offers and I understand that a number of individuals have done so. In this context and with movement of personnel ongoing, the Deputy will appreciate it is not possible for me to provide accurate data in respect of the statistical information for the current year at this time. I can assure the Deputy that, once the re-assignment process is complete, I will provide the information directly to him.

The strength of the Reserve Defence Force at 31 December in each of the years 2008-2011 and at 30 November 2012 is contained in the table below.

Reserve Defence Force -Strength

I wish to assure the Deputy that every effort is being made to complete the re-organisation process at the earliest opportunity. Once that process is complete, confirmed strength figures will be available for 2013.