Defence Forces

Wednesday, 5 May 2021

Questions (352)

Duncan Smith

Question:

352. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Defence the number of commissioned Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve officers by rank that were classified as inactive in each of the years since the reorganisation in 2013 to the latest date for which information is available; and the number classified active that are serving without appointments. [22902/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Defence

The data requested could not be readily ascertained in the timeframe set out for reply and I will revert once the information is available to me.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51

I refer to the above mentioned Parliamentary Question. While it was not possible to provide the information to you requested within the given timeframe, I am now in a position to do so.

The Military Authorities have informed me that the requested information for years 2013 to 2016 (inclusive) is not readily available in their Data Management Office. The number of Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve officers, by rank, that were classified as inactive from 2017 to 2020, as of 31 December of each year, is set out in the table below:

Army Reserve	Lt Colonel	Commandant	Captain	Lieutenant
2017	0	1	17	52
2018	0	1	12	48
2019	0	1	11	43
2020	0	1	8	44

Naval Service Reserve	Lt Colonel	Commandant	Captain	Lieutenant
2017	0	0	0	2
2018	0	0	0	0
2019	0	0	0	0
2020	0	0	0	0

All Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve Officers are appointed to be officers of the RDF for the purpose of assignment to the Reserve of Officers. Officers do not serve without an appointment.

The Chief of Staff sets out the particulars of the status and rank of every officer in all units in the RDF. If the strength of officers of a particular rank in any unit exceeds the number of officers of that rank in the establishment for that unit; then they are placed on the general list. There is a total of 56 RDF officers who are effective serving on the General List.

I trust this information is of assistance to you.