Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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162. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of personnel who opted to join the Reserve Defence Force upon leaving the Permanent Defence Force to date in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44117/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Reserve Defence Force (RDF) is comprised of the Army Reserve (AR), the Naval Service Reserve (NSR) and the First Line Reserve (FLR). A key ongoing challenge for the RDF is to recruit and retain personnel and I am aware that there continues to be a shortfall between the current strength figures and those of the establishment.

The ability to conduct RDF inductions this year has been impacted by the Covid 19 public health pandemic. Nevertheless, 65 additional new members have been inducted thus far this year. 59 of these, including 2 former PDF personnel, were inducted into the AR and 6 into the NSR. Of the 575 PDF personnel that discharged in 2020 up to 30 Nov, 18 have been transferred to the FLR.

Supports being provided to maximise recruitment to the RDF include the use of social media and a range of outreach activities by RDF members. PDF recruit exit interviews now also contain information on applying for membership of the RDF.

I have been advised by the Deputy Chief of Staff (Support) that, from January 2021, a rolling recruitment model for the RDF will be put in place, which is similar to the model currently used for the PDF General Service recruitment.