Réada Cronin
Question:166. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence what steps are being taken to enhance the role of the Reserve Defence Force in Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44691/24]
View answerTuesday, 5 November 2024
Questions (166)
Written answers
The Reserve Defence Force (RDF) is organised on a regional basis, in 28 individual locations, existing as sub-units of parent Permanent Defence Force (PDF) units, with the Defence Forces Headquarters and the Defence Forces Training Camp (DFTC) residing in Kildare.
The RDF currently make a significant contribution to our national defence capability. For example the military authorities estimate that, up to the end of September 2024, 43% of DFTC Army Reserve activity has been in direct support of PDF operations and training. This is in line with the 2021 amendment to the Defence Act, providing for RDF personnel to deploy on a voluntary basis in support of the PDF nationally and overseas, when it is in the best interests of the PDF to do so. This meaningful deployment is significantly contributing to the retention of personnel and complimenting recruiting efforts in the regeneration of the numbers of reservists within the DFTC.
At the end of October 2024, 239 new Reservists (218 Army Reserve and 21 Naval Service Reserve) have been attested, compared with 66 personnel inducted in 2023. The reserve elements in the DFTC have made significant gains in this regard with 17 personnel attested and a further 15 undergoing pre-attestation recruit training.
In line with a recommendation of the Commission on the Defence Forces (CoDF) pertaining to the Reserve, the Office of the Reserve Affairs (ORA) was established in 2022, along with the full time appointment of a Director in that Office at the rank of Colonel, to oversee and support a holistic approach to the revitalisation of the RDF. This Office is based in the Defence Forces Training Centre, (DFTC) in the Curragh Camp, Co. Kildare. The ORA is staffed by a joint PDF and RDF staff who support the day to day running of the RDF while concurrently staffing the operationalisation of the recommendations of the CoDF as laid down in the Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP).
The RDF Regeneration and Development Plan, published by the Office of Reserve Affairs in July 2024, coordinates 27 individual actions designed to create a force of well trained, well equipped and highly motivated Reservists. The overall strategic objective of this plan is to ‘create a reserve force that can seamlessly train, operate and deploy with the PDF nationally and internationally’.
Despite being in a very early implementation phase, it is clear that the initiatives contained with the RDF Regeneration and Development Plan are generating some positive change. This momentum is on a positive trajectory towards a regenerated, trained and capable RDF to support the PDF.