Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 December 2020
348. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Defence the reason Permanent Defence Force and Reserve Defence Force general service recruitment cannot be undertaken simultaneously in view of the same eligibility criteria under the single force concept; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40294/20]
View answerThe restrictions imposed in the interests of public health as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic have had a significant impact on certain Defence Forces activities, leading to difficulties in conducting inductions and training for Defence Forces.
Notwithstanding this, as at 31st October 2020, the military authorities have advised that there were 449 personnel inducted into the Permanent Defence Force (PDF), including 316 General Service Recruits comprising 287 Army recruits and 29 Naval Service recruits. General Service recruits are not inducted directly into the Air Corps.
In addition, 65 new members have been inducted into the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) thus far in 2020, with 59 inducted into the Army Reserve and 6 inducted into the Naval Service Reserve.
General Service recruitment for the PDF is ongoing and so remains open throughout the year. I have recently been advised by the Deputy Chief of Staff (Support) that, from January 2021, a rolling recruitment model for the Reserve will be put in place, which is similar to the model currently used for the PDF General Service recruitment.
While the Government remains fully committed to on-going recruitment in the RDF, it should be noted that the same personnel and resources are utilised for both PDF and RDF recruitment. Given the competing recruitment demands at present, PDF recruitment is, and will remain a priority. However, recruitment to the RDF will be progressed having regard to the available resources.
