Matt Carthy
Question:
169. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current number of permanent members within the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service; the corresponding number for each January in each of the years 2010-2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1943/24]
View answer
Matt Carthy
Question:
170. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current number of members in the Reserve Defence Forces and the Naval Reserve; the corresponding number for each January in each of the years 2010-2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1944/24]
View answer
It is not possible to collate and confirm the required information in the time available. I will revert to the Deputy as soon as the information is made available to me.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51
I refer to the above mentioned Parliamentary Question for answer on 5 December 2023: “To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current number of members in the Reserve Defence Forces and the Naval Reserve; the corresponding number for each January in each of the years 2010-2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter”.
The information requested has been collated and is set out below.
The Reserve Defence Force (RDF) is comprised of the First Line Reserve (FLR), the Army Reserve (AR) and the Naval Service Reserve (NSR).
The Military Authorities advise that the current effective strength of the RDF, as of 31 December 2023, is 1,407 (1,323 - AR and 84 - NSR) and a FLR strength of 282.
The following table contains the effective strength of the AR and NSR. Yearly figures provided, from 2010 to 2023, are as at 1 January each year:
Year
|
AR
|
NSR
|
Total
|
2023
|
1,415
|
103
|
1,518
|
2022
|
1,373
|
116
|
1,489
|
2021
|
1,463
|
125
|
1,588
|
2020
|
1,534
|
139
|
1,673
|
2019
|
1,666
|
133
|
1,799
|
2018
|
1,732
|
124
|
1,856
|
2017
|
1,927
|
122
|
2,049
|
2016
|
2,142
|
138
|
2,280
|
2015
|
2,159
|
143
|
2,302
|
2014
|
3,073
|
155
|
3,228
|
2013
|
4,680
|
137
|
4,817
|
2012
|
4,995
|
225
|
5,220
|
2011
|
5,901
|
182
|
6,083
|
2010
|
6,351
|
293
|
6,644
|
The strength of the FLR, as of 1 January each year, for the same period is as follows:
Year
|
FLR
|
2023
|
277
|
2022
|
272
|
2021
|
263
|
2020
|
290
|
2019
|
288
|
2018
|
273
|
2017
|
255
|
2016
|
239
|
2015
|
243
|
2014
|
246
|
2013
|
262
|
2012
|
281
|
2011
|
317
|
2010
|
354
|
A recruitment drive for the RDF in 2022 resulted in over 1000 applications being received. On the 3 October 2023, the recruitment portal opened again and 200 applications were received in 38 hours. This is a welcome development. There are currently 844 live applications proceeding through the system with 34 medicals completed.
Work has been completed on streamlining the two-stage medical process and fitness testing is now completed before medicals. A more robust and streamlined recruitment process lends itself also to the CoDF recommendations relating to the structure and strength of the RDF, such as increasing the future RDF establishment strength to include, at a minimum, an Air Force Reserve of 200, and a Navy Reserve of 400 and it is the Government's commitment in line with the CoDF recommendations to strengthen the RDF in this regard.
The Government remains committed to on-going recruitment in the RDF. Following the establishment of the Office of Reserve Affairs (ORA), the Director of ORA advises that their immediate focus is on the development of a Regeneration Plan.