On 15 January 2003, I approved, in principle, the report of the Reserve Defence Forces Review Implementation Board for the implementation of the recommendations of the special steering group on the Reserve. The steering group, which I estab lished to undertake a study of the Reserve, reported to me in September 1999.
The Permanent Defence Force is now organised in a three-brigade structure and a Defence Forces training centre. The Reserve Defence Force will be similarly reorganised and restructured and it is envisaged that the implementation of these changes in the Reserve Defence Force will take place over a period of approximately six years.
The White Paper on Defence recognised that a notable and important feature of the existing FCA organisation is its countrywide, geographical spread. This particular aspect will, in general terms, be retained in the future. The full organisational and establishment details of the new Reserve will be determined in the course of the ongoing detailed implementation process. Plans are currently being prepared within each brigade for the amalgamation of FCA units in line with the proposals outlined in the steering group report. The objective of this process is to ensure that better training and other facilities will be provided to members of the Reserve Defence Force.
In general terms, the blueprint for the new Reserve Defence Force will involve replacing An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil with an Army Reserve consisting of two elements. One element will provide personnel who will integrate with Permanent Defence Force units to bring them up to full operational strength in a contingency situation. Personnel who opt for a period of integrated service will be provided with enhanced military training. The larger element will provide the overall Army Reserve, organised into three Reserve brigades.
The steering group report proposed the amalgamation of the 18th Infantry Battalion with the 25th Infantry Battalion and a consequence reduction in the number of companies. I am aware that the General Officer Commanding the Western Brigade has proposed that the existing battalion HQ located in Castlebar be replaced with a company HQ and a rifle company. Currently the number of personnel who attend for training on a regular basis, is 310. Accordingly, no Reserve Defence Force location will be closed and no member of the RDF will be asked or required to terminate their service. However, no final decision on the amalgamation of FCA units will be taken until I have had the opportunity to examine and approve the final amalgamation proposals which are to be submitted to me by the implementation board of each brigade by June 2003.
