Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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36. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the numbers serving in the Defence Forces Reserve at the end of 2017; the projected enlistment for 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3358/18]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The Government appreciates the service of the members of the Reserve Defence Force.  The White Paper on Defence is clear that there is a continued requirement to retain and develop the Reserve and it confirms that the primary role of the Reserve is to augment the Permanent Defence Force in times of crisis. In non-crisis situations, the main focus will be on training to prepare for this role. The Government has also assigned a formal role to the Reserve of contributing to State ceremonial events.

As of the 31st December 2017 the number of personnel in the Reserve Defence Force was as follows:

First Line Reserve: 271 personnel

Army Reserve: 1,732 (effective) personnel

Naval Service Reserve: 124 (effective) personnel

I am aware that there is a shortfall between current strength and the establishment, which provides for 4,069 personnel for the combined Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve.  The most recent recruitment campaign for the Army Reserve and Naval Service began in July 2017 and attracted 1,221 applications. A total of 139 personnel were inducted to the Reserve Defence Force in 2017.

It is my intention to hold a further Reserve recruitment campaign in 2018 and I have directed the military authorities to maximise recruitment to the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve, having regard to training demands arising from the significant ongoing recruitment to the PDF.