Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 February 2021
145. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Defence the number of Reserve Defence Force personnel by barracks; if there will be a recruitment campaign in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10607/21]
View answerFor reasons of operational security, it is not possible to release Reserve Defence Force (RDF) strength figures by barracks.
The RDF is comprised of the Army Reserve (AR), the Naval Service Reserve (NSR) and the First Line Reserve (FLR). The effective strength of the Army Reserve (AR) and Naval Service Reserve (NSR) as at 31 January 2021 is 1,583, comprising 1,458 Army Reserve members and 125 members of the Naval Service Reserve. The FLR strength at that date, is 263 personnel.
I have been advised by the Deputy Chief of Staff (Support) that a rolling recruitment model for the RDF will be put in place in 2021, which is similar to the model currently used for the PDF General Service recruitment.
An advertisement campaign for RDF recruitment is scheduled to be launched in mid-March.
