Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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591. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on the commitment to revitalise the Reserve Defence Force as part of the work to move to 'Level of Ambition 2' (LOA2), as set out in the capability framework devised by the Commission on the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12677/23]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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592. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on the planned establishment of an Office of Reserve Affairs, with the priority objective of developing a regeneration plan for the Reserve Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12678/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 591 and 592 together.

In July 2022, Government approval was given for a move to ‘Level of Ambition 2’ (LOA2), as set out in the capability framework devised by the Commission on the Defence Forces in its Report which was published in February of 2022. This results in the Defence budget rising from €1.1 billion to €1.5 billion by 2028, the largest increase in Defence funding in the history of the State.

The High Level Action Plan (HLAP) which was approved by Government, gives the building blocks to progress the recommendations in the Report from the Commission on the Defence Forces, agreed by Government.

The revitalisation of the Reserve Defence Force is one of five core areas highlighted in the Report and in this context, an agreed early action, is the establishment of an Office of Reserve Affairs (ORA) with the priority objective, in the first instance, of developing a regeneration plan for the Reserve Defence Force.

I'm pleased to say that the set up of the Office of Reserve Affairs has commenced and the appointment of staff is already actively in train with the appointment recently of a Colonel to lead the office.

The initial focus of the ORA will be on the development of a Regeneration Plan for the Reserve.

I wish to assure the Deputy that work is continuing on the implementation of the full range of designated 'early actions' including actions associated with the Reserve, as well as the development of an overall Implementation Plan for all the recommendations.

It is my intention that the momentum behind the regeneration of the RDF will be maintained throughout 2023 and beyond, thereby enabling us, going forward, to create a Reserve Defence Force that can seamlessly train, operate and deploy with the Permanent Defence Force, both nationally and internationally.