Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 March 2020
17. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the strength of the Defence Forces Reserve as of 29 February 2020 with regard to the three services and each rank; the gender breakdown of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3565/20]
View answerThe Reserve Defence Force (RDF) is comprised of the First Line Reserve (FLR), the Army Reserve (AR) and the Naval Service Reserve (NSR).
The most up to date figures available for the effective strength of the Army Reserve (AR) and Naval Service Reserve (NSR), as of 31 January 2020, are set out in the following tables.
|
Effective |
Lt Col |
Comdt |
Capt |
Lt |
Total Officers |
SM |
BQMS |
CS |
CQMS |
SGT |
CPL |
Total NCO |
Pte |
Total |
|
Army Reserve (AR) |
3 |
43 |
87 |
104 |
237 |
1 |
4 |
32 |
45 |
214 |
293 |
589 |
702 |
1528 |
|
Naval Service Reserve (NSR) |
0 |
3 |
9 |
5 |
17 |
0 |
4 |
5 |
0 |
7 |
26 |
42 |
72 |
131 |
The breakdown of females of the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve for the same period is as follows:
|
Effective |
Lt Col |
Comdt |
Capt |
Lt |
Total Officers |
SM |
BQMS |
CS |
CQMS |
SGT |
CPL |
Total NCO |
Pte |
Total |
|
Army Reserve (AR) |
0 |
3 |
10 |
18 |
31 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
14 |
55 |
71 |
99 |
201 |
|
Naval Service Reserve (NSR) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
4 |
14 |
20 |
The substantive strength of the First line Reserve for the same period is as follows:
|
Formation |
Officer |
NCO |
PTE |
Total |
|
Army |
9 |
12 |
136 |
157 |
|
Air Corps |
|
4 |
21 |
25 |
|
Naval Service |
10 |
12 |
86 |
108 |
|
Total |
19 |
28 |
243 |
290 |
*The gender breakdown of the FLR is not available
The Government appreciates the service of the Reserve Defence Force and recognises its importance in contributing to Ireland's defence capabilities.
