Ivor Callely
Question:49 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Defence the consideration which has been given to have a reserve or support structure to the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24377/01]
Vol. 542 No. 4
49 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Defence the consideration which has been given to have a reserve or support structure to the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24377/01]
I am advised by the military authorities that a military board, on which the FCÁ is represented, has been set up at Defence Forces headquarters to formulate specific plans for the implementation of the recommendations of the steering group, which I set up to undertake a study of the reserve and which reported to me in September 1999. Under the aegis of the military board, structures have been put in place in each brigade and in the Naval Service to facilitate consultation with FCÁ and Slua Muirí personnel throughout the country. Given the dependence of the reserve on voluntary service, I was anxious that there should be an ongoing process of consultation before proposals are finalised. The military authorities have advised that the process of formulating revised structures for the Reserve Defence Force is ongoing.
The Permanent Defence Force is now organised in a three-brigade structure and a Defence Forces Training Centre. The Reserve Defence Force will be similarly reorganised and restructured and it is envisaged that the implementation of these changes in the Reserve Defence Force will take place over a period of approximately six years.
The White Paper on Defence recognised that a notable and important feature of the existing FCÁ organisation is its country-wide, geographical spread. This aspect will, in general terms, be retained in the future. The full organisational and establishment details of the new reserve force will be determined in the course of the ongoing detailed implementation process.