Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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40. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence when he anticipates the Reserve Defence Force achieving the overall establishment personnel number of 4,169; the steps he has taken to address the considerable delays that applicants to join the RDF are experiencing in getting Garda clearance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27132/16]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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In the White Paper on Defence 2015, the Government recognised the important role that the Reserve Defence Force have played in contributing to Ireland’s defence capability, and in particular to, the spirit of voluntary service which has been the hallmark of the Reserve. The Government appreciates the service of the members of the Reserve and the White Paper on Defence is clear that there is a continued requirement to retain and develop the Reserve. In that regard, the White Paper also sets out a developmental path for the RDF. It 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.

The strength of the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) at the end of July, 2016 (the latest date for which figures are available) was 2,141 effective personnel.

As the Deputy will be aware, a key challenge is to recruit, train and retain sufficient personnel to meet the reserve establishment provided for in the White Paper. A rolling recruitment campaign for the RDF General Service was launched in September 2015. An administrative pause was placed on the competition when the PDF General Service competition was launched. The RDF rolling recruitment recommenced on 23 July 2016.

As the Deputy will appreciate, it is necessary to strike an appropriate balance in terms of both PDF and RDF recruitment so as to deliver the desired effects in terms of maintaining the capacity of the Defence Forces to undertake all roles assigned by Government and to advance the single-force concept. However, within that framework and having regard to the training capacity of the Defence Forces, I am anxious to accelerate the rate of recruitment to the RDF.

As I have stated previously, membership of the RDF is voluntary and strength levels are ultimately dependent on how many people actually volunteer for the RDF in any given calendar year and commit to ongoing active participation in training and other activities.

With regard to Garda clearance, as I advised the Deputy recently, applicants to the Reserve Defence Force are vetted by the Garda Central Vetting Unit as part of the recruitment process. This vetting takes the standard 4 (four) weeks. Additional vetting also takes place appropriate to the role of the Defence Forces as an element of national security infrastructure and the training provided to RDF recruits. Overall security processing time can take up to 12 weeks (twelve). I am assured by the Military Authorities that they are actively addressing any avoidable delays which may occur during the recruitment process, without diminishing the rigour and utility of the procedure.