Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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773. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the most up to date figures for the strength of the Reserve Defence Force with regard to all three services and all ranks; the gender breakdown of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54051/17]

Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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775. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of additional recruits the Reserve Defence Force has taken on in 2017 with regard to all services; the gender breakdown of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54053/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Numbers 773 and 775 together.

As of 31 October 2017 (the latest date for which figures are available), the effective strength of the Reserve Defence Force was as follows:

I am aware that there is a shortfall between these figures and those of the establishment, which provides for 4,069 personnel. The most recent recruitment campaign for the Army Reserve and Naval Service began in July 2017 and attracted 1,221 applications. A total of 128 personnel have been inducted to the Reserve Defence Force in 2017. The recruitment process has also been streamlined so as to make it more efficient. The gender breakdown of the 2017 recruits is currently being compiled by the military authorities, and I will revert to the Deputy with this information when it is available.

Given the competing recruitment demands at present, where PDF recruitment is and should remain a priority, recruitment to the Reserve is continuing. However, it should be noted that the same personnel and resources are utilised for both Permanent and Reserve Defence Force recruitment and the planned recruitment of up to 800 Permanent Defence Force personnel this year obviously impacted on resource allocation.

I would like to assure the Deputy that I remain committed to the ongoing development of the RDF within the framework set out in the White Paper on Defence and having regard to resource availability.