Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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126. To ask the Minister for Defence the extent to which members of An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil receive annual training to the full extent required, on an annual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25600/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Value for Money Review of the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) was published in November 2012. A key recommendation in that review was to ensure that all effective members of the Reserve were afforded the opportunity to undertake annual training. The criteria for effectiveness of RDF personnel are set out in Defence Forces Regulations (DFR R5). The criteria for the effectiveness, including attendance at training are currently being reviewed in line with the recommendation made in the Value for Money Review (VFM) Review of the RDF. DFR R5 will be updated in due course to reflect any changes in these criteria. In the interim, indicative attendance requirements for 2015 were set out in Administrative Order 01/2013, “Implementation of the Defence Forces Reorganisation Plan Reserve Defence Force (RDF), 2012-2013”. In this context, the indicative attendance requirements for individual reservists for 2015 are a total of 48 hours paid/unpaid training and a minimum of 12 hours voluntary unpaid experiential training.

As of 31^stMay, 2015, the effective strength of the RDF is 2,070 personnel for the Army and 127 for the Naval Service.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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127. To ask the Minister for Defence the extent to which members of the Reserve Defence Forces receive annual or periodic training; the extent of such training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25601/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Value for Money Review of the Reserve Defence Force was published in November 2012. A key recommendation in that review was to ensure that all effective members of the Reserve were afforded the opportunity to undertake annual training. In order to facilitate the nature of Reserve service, training is organised both in and out of normal working hours and at weekends. Reserve training is also organised during academic and traditional holiday periods in order to maximise attendance of Reserve personnel. Reserve personnel also have the opportunity to complete formal courses of training at Brigade and Formation level and in the Defence Forces Training Centre in the Curragh Camp. Training of the Reserve remains a priority of the Defence Forces.

In 2014 members of the Reserve availed of 23,000 paid training days. The 2015 budgetary provision for paid training for members of the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve is €2.068 million. This will provide approximately 26,000 paid training days.