Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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636. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the single force concept for the reorganisation of the Reserve Defence Forces has achieved its stated goals of 4,069 persons. [2695/17]

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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637. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the figures for recruitment to the Reserve Defence Forces for each of the years 2013 to 2016. [2696/17]

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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638. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the numbers in service and the number of discharges of the Reserve Defence Forces for each of the years 2013 to 2016. [2697/17]

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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639. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he plans to stand down the Reserve Defence Forces. [2698/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 636 to 639, inclusive, together.

The major re-organisation of the Army Reserve (AR) and Naval Service Reserve (NSR) was implemented in 2013 and the RDF is now organised alongside the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) within a more efficient single force structure. In practice, this provided for the retention of 4,069 personnel spread countrywide based in barracks and 16 other locations. As part of the subsequent re-organisation, all RDF units have been disestablished and amalgamated within PDF units. The re-organisation has provided significant advantages in terms of training and development with PDF units having Reserve components rather than the previous parallel structure. Reserve units are supported by their parent PDF unit and the 16 units outside of PDF installations are supported by dedicated full time PDF personnel.

There are, therefore, no plans to stand down the Reserve. On the contrary, in the White Paper on Defence 2015, the Government recognises the important role that the Reserve Defence Force has 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.

Initiatives for the Reserve outlined in the White Paper include the following:

- The potential to utilise the Reserve in a voluntary unpaid capacity will be progressed in consultation with the Representative Associations.

- Consideration will be given to activating Reserve Sub-Units for short periods of training with PDF Units or other support tasks.

- Specialist members of the RDF will be placed on a panel, to be known as the Specialist Reserve and, subject to their availability, they will be considered as an option to meet specialist skills shortages.

- The terms and conditions of membership of the First Line Reserve will be revised to include capping the length of service of members, reactivating annual paid training and introducing criteria for retention as an effective member. The case for the current gratuity will also be examined.

- Consideration will be given to establishing a database of former members of the Army Reserve, Naval Service Reserve, First Line Reserve and Permanent Defence Force who could be called upon to volunteer in a crisis situation, by listing these as an “Inactive Reserve”.

The strength of the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) at the end of December, 2016 (the latest date for which figures are available) was 2,049 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. 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.

For administrative reasons, the military authorities were unable to provide the data sought. Figures relating to RDF recruitment, the numbers in service and discharges for the years 2013 to 2016 will be provided to the Deputy within the allowed timeframe.