Bernard Allen
Question:156 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Defence when the implementation plan for the reorganisation of the Reserve Defence Forces will be available. [4640/02]
Written Answers. - Defence Forces.
I am advised by the military authorities that a military board, the Reserve Defence Forces Review Implementation Board, on which the FCA is represented, has been set up at Defence Forces headquarters to formulate specific plans for the implementation of the recommendations of the reserve steering group. I established the special steering group in 1998 to undertake a study of the Reserve and the group 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 FCA 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 and the draft Reserve Defence Forces Review Implementation Board report is expected to be submitted to the Chief of Staff shortly.
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 approximately six years. The White Paper on Defence recognised that a notable and important feature of the existing FCA organisation is its countrywide, geographical spread. This particular 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.
In general terms, the blueprint for the new Reserve Defence Force will involve replacing An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil with an Army Reserve consisting of two elements. One element will provide personnel who will integrate with Permanent Defence Force units to bring them up to full operational strength in a contingency situation. Personnel who opt for a period of integrated service will be provided with enhanced military training. The larger element will provide the overall Army Reserve, organised into three Reserve brigades.
As indicated in the White Paper on Defence, an important change recommended by the study of the Reserve is that members of the FCA should be considered for participation in overseas peace support missions subject to suitable qualifications, personal availability and appropriate advance training. Service by reservists on overseas peace support missions in other countries is quite common. General criteria governing selection for overseas service come within the scope of representation and any matters relating to overseas service by members of the Reserve which come within the scope of representation will be raised with the representative associations at the appropriate forum. The question of the security of civilian employment for the members of the Reserve who may wish to serve overseas will be considered as part of the implementation process. Accordingly, pending the completion of the implementation plan applications to serve overseas have not been received from members of the Reserve.
The report of the steering group on the special study of the Reserve Defence Force indicated that the existing first line Reserve system meets the Air Corps Reserve aviation requirement. Former Air Corps personnel who volunteer for service on the Reserve, or who have a Reserve commitment, should be attached to a unit of the Air Corps. The steering group did not recommend that a special Reserve Unit be established specifically for the Air Corps.
The current strength of the Naval Service Reserve-An Slua Muirí is 25 officers, 42 non-commissioned officers and 108 seamen. In order that senior Reserve Defence Force officers can serve and influence Reserve activities at the highest level in Brigade headquarters and the Defence Forces Training Centre, the steering group recommended the creation of four new lieutenant-colonel appointments. It is intended that these appointments will form part of the integrated element of the Reserve and personnel appointed to these appointments would hold them for the duration of their integrated service. While the mechanism for appointing personnel to these appointments has not yet been established, it will form part of the 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.