Written answers
Tuesday, 22 May 2018
Department of Defence
Defence Forces Reserve Strength
Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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110. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the permitted strength by rank and unit for the Reserve Defence Forces; the effective strength of the force at the most recent date available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22593/18]
Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The numerical establishment of the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve is set out in the following table.
| Rank | Army Reserve Establishment | Naval Service Reserve Establishment | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lieutenant Colonel | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Commandant | 60 | 4 | 64 |
| Captain | 107 | 20 | 127 |
| Lieutenant | 110 | 0 | 110 |
| Sergeant Major | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Company Sergeant | 38 | 8 | 46 |
| Company Quartermaster Sergeant | 38 | 0 | 38 |
| Sergeant | 301 | 16 | 317 |
| Corporal | 708 | 32 | 740 |
| Private | 2,501 | 116 | 2,617 |
| Total | 3,869 | 200 | 4,069 |
The current effective strength (as of 31 March 2018) of the Reserve Defence Force is 1,777 personnel (1,653 Army Reserve and 124 Naval Service Reserve).
I am aware that there is a shortfall between these figures and those of the establishment. A recruitment campaign for both the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve is currently taking place and will close on 4 June 2018. The 2017 recruitment campaign for the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve began in July 2017 and attracted 1,221 applications. A total of 139 new recruits were inducted into the RDF in 2017 and in 2018, as of 14 May, a further 55 personnel were inducted.
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.
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