Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 December 2025
305. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Defence if her Department will identify the strategies used since 2022 to recruit persons into the Reserve Defence Forces; the success which has been achieved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71258/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra306. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Defence if her Department will provide details of the efforts made since 2022 to encourage former members of the Defence Forces and, former Defence Forces technicians and other specialists to transfer to the Reserve Defence Forces or to return to uniform in the Reserve; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71259/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 305 and 306 together.
In 2023, on foot of a recommendation of the Commission on the Defence Forces, the Defence Forces Office of Reserve Affairs (ORA) was established. One of ORA’s priorities was the development of the Reserve Defence Forces (RDF) Regeneration and Development Plan (RDFRDP), published in July 2024, which coordinates 27 individual actions to drive forward recruitment and retention; resourcing; training and education; as well as integration and deployment. Each of the 27 actions contribute to the ultimate goal of developing a Reserve Force that can seamlessly train, operate and deploy on a voluntary basis with the Permanent Defence Force, both nationally and overseas.
Examples of recruitment measures that continue to support this objective include the increase in upper recruitment and mandatory retirement ages, implementation of a ‘managed Induction Process’ and the on boarding process which enables candidates to undergo pre-attestation recruit training.
In addition to general service recruitment, a further action within the RDFRDP is the enabling of multi induction streams, which will ensure the RDF has as many induction mechanisms as possible, including direct and lateral entry.
The Office of Reserve Affairs has also created a Reserve Strategic Engagement Team, comprised of reservists with relevant marketing, advertising and media production skills, who have led a series of initiatives to enhance awareness of the RDF and support recruitment. This involves conducting a social media campaign, attending events and engaging with relevant stakeholders.
Furthermore, a national advertising campaign is being developed which will include new updated RDF promotional material and the roll out of branded exhibition equipment.
Admission to the First Line Reserve (FLR) element of the RDF, which provides a pool of former trained/ specialist personnel, available to supplement the PDF in times of emergency, is also under review.
The increased interest in the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) was reflected in the number of Reserve Training and Support Days (RTSDs) undertaken in 2024 which totalled 28,762 days, or an excess of 2,762 days over the original allocation of 26,000 days. The original 2024 budget allocation for the RDF was proactively increased in Q4 2024 to meet evolving levels of RDF activity, with a further increase requested and sanctioned in the latter part of the year.
One of my key priorities is the modernisation of our Defence Forces, and revitalising our Reserve Defence Forces is a vital part of that transformation process. The Regeneration and Development Plan actions are generating positive change and increased momentum towards a regenerated, trained and capable RDF to support the Permanent Defence Forces.
