Written answers
Tuesday, 13 October 2020
Department of Defence
Defence Forces Reserve
Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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196. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the effective strength and the establishment strength of the Reserve Defence Force by rank in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29804/20]
Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Reserve Defence Force (RDF) is comprised of the First Line Reserve (FLR), the Army Reserve (AR) and the Naval Service Reserve (NSR).
End of month strength returns are collated at the mid-month point of the following month and hence September 2020 returns are not available at this time. The most up to date figures available therefore for the effective strength of the Army Reserve (AR) and Naval Service Reserve (NSR), are as of 31 August 2020, and are set out below.
A key ongoing challenge for the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve is to recruit and retain personnel and there continues to be a shortfall between the current strength figures and the establishment of 4,069 personnel.
The restrictions imposed in the interests of public health as a result of the Covid 19 Pandemic have had a significant impact on many Defence Forces activities, particularly those involving collective training. As a result, it has been difficult to conduct RDF inductions. Nevertheless, a recruitment campaign for the AR and NSR was opened in March 2020 and 63 new members have been inducted so far this year.
I wish to assure the Deputy of the Government's continued commitment to on-going recruitment in the AR and NSR and I am advised that, while there are no specific dates as of yet, it is anticipated that another recruitment campaign for the AR and NSR will be opened in autumn 2020.
| LT COL | COMDT | CAPT | LT | TOTAL OFFR | SM | BQMS | CS | CQMS | SGT | CPL | TOTAL NCO | PTE | TOTAL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AR | 5 | 46 | 79 | 99 | 229 | 1 | 4 | 25 | 40 | 246 | 278 | 573 | 699 | 1501 |
| NR | 0 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 23 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 13 | 13 | 36 | 64 | 123 |
The substantive strength of the First Line Reserve (FLR) as of 31 August 2020 is as follows:
| FORMATION | OFFR | NCO | PTE | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AR | 1 | 15 | 135 | 151 |
| AC | - | 4 | 22 | 26 |
| NS | 3 | 14 | 86 | 103 |
| TOTAL | 4 | 33 | 243 | 280 |
The combined establishment for the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve is 4,069 personnel, as broken down in the table below:
| ESTABLISHMENT | LT COL | COMDT | CAPT | LT | TOTAL OFFR | SM | BQMS | CS | CQMS | SGT | CPL | TOTAL NCO | PTE | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Army Reserve (AR) | 5 | 60 | 107 | 110 | 282 | 1 | - | 38 | 38 | 301 | 708 | 1086 | 2501 | 3869 |
| ESTABLISHMENT | LT CDR | LT | TOTAL OFFR | WO | SCPO | CPO | PO | LS | TOTAL NCO | SMN | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naval Service Reserve (NSR) | 4 | 20 | 24 | - | 4 | 8 | 16 | 32 | 60 | 116 | 200 |
Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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197. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the average age of personnel in the Reserve Defence Force by rank, in tabular form. [29805/20]
Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The military authorities have provided the information sought by the Deputy for both the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve, which is set out in the table below. I have requested the military authorities to provide the information requested by the Deputy relating to the First Line Reserve and will revert to you once the information is received.
| Rank (Army) | Average Age |
|---|---|
| Lt Col | 52 |
| Comdt | 52 |
| Capt | 48 |
| Lt | 44 |
| 2/Lt | 40 |
| Sgt Maj | 59 |
| BQMS | 57 |
| CS | 54 |
| CQMS | 54 |
| Sgt | 47 |
| Cpl | 38 |
| Pte 3* | 32 |
| Pte 2* | 25 |
| Grade 1 | 25 |
| Rank (Naval Service) | Average Age |
| Lt Cdr | 53 |
| Lt (NS) | 49 |
| S/Lt | 41 |
| ENS | 33 |
| SCPO | 53 |
| CPO | 51 |
| PO | 39 |
| LS | 40 |
| AS | 29 |
| OS | 26 |
Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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198. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the process for allowing former reservists re-enlist in the Reserve Defence Force to serve overseas in specific circumstances and allowing retired members of the Permanent Defence Force to move over to the Reserve Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29806/20]
Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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There is currently no provision in the Defence Acts to allow members of the RDF to be deployed overseas. The primary roles allocated to the RDF, remain to augment the Permanent Defence Force in crisis situations and to contribute to State ceremonial events.
The existing regulatory framework provides for former members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) to join the Army Reserve (AR) or Naval Service Reserve (NSR). This is subject to their meeting certain criteria.
Direct entry to the First Line Reserve (FLR) is limited to personnel who are departing the PDF and have undertaken, either voluntarily or on foot of a contractual commitment, to complete a period of service in the FLR.
I am certainly open to looking at the possibility of RDF members serving overseas on a voluntary basis. This could provide a means to augment the PDF in specialisms where skills gaps currently exist. I am also open to considering how recruitment, including of former members of the PDF, to the RDF can be improved.
In this context, the programme for Government provides for the establishment for a Commission on the Defence Forces and the work of the Commission will inform the future development of the RDF.
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