Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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26. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason there is currently no gratuity or pension for members retiring from the Reserve Defence Forces despite the fact that members of similar organisations in other countries receive the same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30287/16]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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It is important to state at the outset that I hold the members of the Reserve Defence Force in very high regard, as do all my colleagues in Government. I have been hugely impressed by the work that volunteer members of the Reserve Defence Force undertake in their local communities in the context of Aid to the Civil Authorities during periods of flooding and other such events, and the pride and professionalism with which they carry out their numerous ceremonial duties especially throughout this year, the Centenary of the 1916 Rising.

Members of the Army Reserve and the Naval Service Reserve are volunteers who undertake training in their spare time. Much of the training is unpaid. However, provision is also made for members of the Reserve to avail of paid training. In that regard, the overall budget available in 2016 is set at €2.150 million, of which €2.068 million is allocated to paid training of Reserve members. This budget provides for 30,000 training mandays. This allocation provides a minimum of 7 days annual paid training for all effective members of the Reserve. It also provides for 14 days paid training for all additional personnel recruited to the Reserve Defence Force in 2016 and for career and specialist courses for selected members of the Reserve. The allocation also includes provision for RDF participation in 2016 commemoration ceremonial parades and events.

Members of the Army Reserve and the Naval Service Reserve are not employed or engaged under a contract of employment. A contract of employment stipulates the hours of work, hours of attendance or other related matters normally associated with the concept of gainful employment. Furthermore, service with the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve is not pensionable under the Army Pension Schemes. For these reasons, it has been the long-standing policy that neither gratuities nor pensions are paid to members of the Reserve when they leave and there are no plans to change this position.

It would not be appropriate for me to comment on the situation regarding gratuity or pension payments to military reserve members in other jurisdictions. That is a matter for the relevant governments to decide upon, within their specific policy operational, budgetary and legal circumstances.

In conclusion, I am satisfied with the current financial provision for the Reserve in terms of mandays allowance. This allowance ensures that there are sufficient paid training opportunities available to members of the Reserve. These training opportunities, in turn, allow Reserve personnel to fulfil the roles allocated to them, as set out in the 2015 White Paper on Defence.