Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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37. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the status of a recruitment drive to the Reserve Defence Forces (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16896/16]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the White Paper on Defence published in 2015 reaffirms the Government’s commitment to the ongoing development of the Reserve Defence Forces.

Among other policy initiatives to be undertaken in the coming years in relation to the Reserve, the White Paper provides that the overarching establishment of the Army Reserve (AR) and Naval Service Reserve (NSR) is to be set at 4,169 personnel, consisting of 3,869 Army Reservists and the expansion of the establishment of the four NSR Units from currently 200 personnel to 300.

As the Deputy will appreciate a key challenge is to recruit and train sufficient personnel to meet the reserve establishment provided for.

Generally speaking recruitment campaigns are conducted on an annual ongoing basis. The current recruitment competition started in September 2015. It has currently been paused, on an administrative basis, as the Defence Forces are administering the recruitment campaign for candidates to enter the Permanent Defence Forces. I am advised that it is intended to recommence the campaign for the Reservists in the coming months.

The Deputy can be assured that I share his belief in the value of providing young people with range of unique life experiences which can be got from participation in both the Permanent and Reserve Defence Forces.