James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator O'Reilly for raising the important matter of the recruitment and retention of Reserve Defence Force members. I am responding on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, who unfortunately cannot be here. The Tánaiste asked me to pass on his apologies to the House. On his behalf, I welcome the opportunity to respond on this matter and thank Senator O’Reilly for his question.

I reiterate the Government’s commitment to the RDF. The immediate focus for the Tánaiste as Minister for Defence is on stabilising the numbers of personnel and facilitating capacity for further increases. An important enabler in this regard has been the extensive work undertaken to update the Defence Forces regulation, DFR R5, underpinning the Reserve, as well as the 2021 amendment to the Defence Act which provides for the deployment on a voluntary basis of RDF members both on-island and overseas in support of the Permanent Defence Force.The strategic objective for the Reserve Defence Force, RDF, is the development of a reserve force which can seamlessly train, operate and deploy on a voluntary basis with the Permanent Defence Forces both in Ireland and overseas. This is an underlying message in the 2022 report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, CODF. This report contained a number of recommendations on the Reserve Defence Force. Two recommendations from that report, denoted as early actions, related to the establishment of the Office of Reserve Affairs, ORA, and the development of a regeneration plan for the Reserve. Following the establishment of the ORA the director of ORA has advised that his immediate focus is in the development of a regeneration plan. In addition to focusing on general recruitment into the RDF, a recruitment drive for the RDF was launched in October 2023 which was advertised across a number of media channels. To date, work continues on the 674 live applications currently proceeding through the system with more than 360 interviews now concluded; 317 fitness tests; 191 part one medicals completed; 129 part two medicals complete; and 56 applicants already attested.

It is clear that a more robust and streamlined recruitment process lent itself to the CODF recommendations relating to the structure and strength of the RDF. The measures which have been taken to improve the administration of medicals are a clear example of this. I am advised that a broad spectrum of initiatives are currently under development to enable the RDF to deliver enhanced military capabilities when and where required in support of the PDF. These initiatives and the enabling actions will be outlined in the Reserve Defence Force regeneration and development plan which is being drafted by the ORA. The plan which is to be submitted to the Tánaiste in the near future is due for publication in the early third quarter of this year and, as I have already confirmed, the Government remains committed to bolstering the numbers of the RDF.

In that context, the upper recruitment and mandatory retirement ages for the RDF were recently increased to match those for the Permanent Defence Force and a budget of €2,050,000 for the RDF was exceeded last year by nearly €190,000, due to an increase in training days completed by RDF members in 2023. This is a clear example of positive growth and of a regeneration of the RDF in 2023 and, as a result, an increase in the budget has been provided for 2024.

While the majority of measures supporting recruitment and retention will inevitably incur some overheads, all options to bolster recruitment and retention will be considered. I would add that there are regular informal meetings also between the association which represents the Reserve, departmental officials and military management where issues affecting the RDF are discussed.

I thank the Senator again for raising this matter and assure him that it is the intention of the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to ensure that the momentum behind the regeneration of the RDF will be maintained throughout 2024 and in the coming year. I thank the Cathaoirleach.