Noel Grealish
Question:118 Mr. Grealish asked the Minister for Defence the effect the reorganisation of the Reserve Defence Forces will have on Boyle, County Roscommon. [26399/02]
Written Answers. - Defence Forces Reserve.
I am advised by the military authorities that a military board, the Reserve Defence Force Review Implementation Board, was established to formulate a plan for the implementation of the recommendations of the special steering group on the Reserve. I established the steering group in 1998 to undertake a study of the Reserve and the group reported to me in September 1999. In June of this year, I received the draft Reserve Defence Force Review Implementation Board report from the Chief of Staff and that draft report is currently under examination.
The steering group report did propose an amalgamation of 19 Infantry Battalion and 24 Infantry Battalion. The military authorities have advised me that this proposed amalgamation will provide an optimal environment for personnel in the relevant areas to partake actively in the new enhanced Reserve Defence Force envisaged both by the Reserve steering group and by the recent military implementation board.