Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 June 2013
185. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Defence if he will set out the value for money reports and the focused policy assessments carried out within his Department since March 2011; and the actions that have been taken to implement such reports. [28171/13]
View answerNo Focused Policy Assessments have been carried out within my Department during the time frame outlined. Since March 2011, a Value for Money (VFM) Review of the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) was finalised and published.
Since the publication of this Review in November, 2012, there has been significant progress made in implementing its recommendations. New organisational structures for the Reserve were introduced at the end of March, 2013. The Reserve budget has been rebalanced and funding previously allocated to gratuities has been redirected to increase the amount of paid training available to the Reserve. This will ensure that the revised organisational strength ceiling of 4,069 personnel is sustainable within the prevailing resource envelope. The implementation of other recommendations is ongoing and these changes will ensure the continued viability of the Reserve.
