Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 November 2012
29. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Defence the measures he will undertake to ensure that rural Reserve Defence Forces outposts are maintained and fully supported by permanent members of the Defence Forces. [48459/12]
View answerArising from the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure (CRE), the Government stabilised the strength ceiling of the PDF at 9,500 personnel. A major re-organisation of the PDF was initiated which will entail a reduction in the number of Army Brigades from three to two. As part of this re-organisation the number of PDF personnel (known as PDF Cadre) available to work full-time with the Army Reserve is being reduced to 24 in each Brigade (48 in total). Additional support will be provided to the Army Reserve from PDF Units as part of their ongoing duties.
In light of the reduction in the number of full-time PDF Cadre, it is clearly not feasible to staff all posts in the same way as they are currently staffed and alternative approaches must be developed. I understand that the Steering Committee that undertook the VFM Review had due regard to the revised PDF structures and resource constraints when framing their recommendations.
As the proposed responses to these recommendations are currently being developed, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this point.
