Ivor Callely
Question:76 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Defence the recruitment policy in place for the FCA; the gender and age profile of the total strength of the FCA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24636/01]
Written Answers. - Defence Forces Reserve.
The strength of the FCA as at 30 June 2001, the latest date for which figures have been compiled, was 12,920 – of whom 3,068 were female personnel. Recruitment to the FCA is ongoing and continuous at local level to replace wastage. A recruitment campaign for the Defence Forces, which will commence shortly, will include recruitment to the Reserve Defence Forces. Recruitment of new members is facilitated by visits to secondary schools on a regular basis, by local advertising and by active community involvement and profile generally. The Defence Forces are concerned at all times to recruit active committed young people with a view to keeping strengths at appropriate levels and introducing young people to the Defence Forces and encouraging their natural interest. Some may subsequently become interested in going on for enlistment in the Permanent Defence Force. The military authorities advise that there are no details readily available on the age profile of the second line reserve.
The overall strategy for the future development of the Reserve Defence Force, including the FCA will be based on the report of the special steering group, which I established in January 1998. The combined Army reserve, comprising integrated and reserve brigade elements, will total some 11,948 personnel. A thorough, com prehensive and in depth study of the reserve was undertaken, involving a very considerable amount of work both by a military board, established by the then chief of staff, and latterly by the steering group itself. I formally launched the steering group report in November 2000. I am advised by the military authorities that a board, on which the FCA is represented, has been set up at Defence Forces headquarters to formulate specific plans for the implementation of the steering group recommendations.
The White Paper on Defence recognised that a notable and important feature of the existing FCA organisation is its countrywide, geographical spread. This aspect will, in general terms, be retained in the future. The full organisational and establishment details of the new reserve force, as envisaged by the steering group, will be determined in the course of a detailed implementation process. I must emphasise that the steering group was particularly mindful of the need to preserve and to retain the very many traditional and well established strengths of the current reserve system, not least the admirable spirit of individual voluntary commitment, close social links with local communities and a good depth and scope as regards nationwide geographical spread.
In advance of the completion of the plans for the implementation of the steering group recommendations the total sum allocated for the training of the second line reserve – FCA and An Slua Muirí – was increased by an additional £1.6 million from £5.7 million in 2000 to £7.3 million in 2001. This figure provided for an increase in the number of man days from the level of 84,000 in 2000 to 94,000 approximately in 2001, allocated approximately between 75,000 days annual training and approximately 18,000 for 14 day full-time courses of instruction for officer and NCO technical training.