Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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75. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the most up-to-date figures for the strength of the Reserve Defence Forces with regard to all three services and all ranks; the gender breakdown of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14698/18]

Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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77. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of additional recruits the Reserve Defence Forces have taken on to date in 2018 with regard to all services; the gender breakdown of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14700/18]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 75 and 77 together.

As of 28th February 2018 (the latest date for which figures are available), the effective strength of the Reserve Defence Force (Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve) 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 Reserve began in July 2017 and attracted 1,221 applications, of which 162 were female applicants. A total of 139 new recruits were inducted into the RDF in 2017, of which 10 were female. To date in 2018, 38 personnel have been inducted to the Reserve Defence Force, of which 4 are female. There are plans to launch the next Reserve recruitment campaign in the 2nd quarter of 2018.

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.