Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 July 2017
492. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the strength of the Reserve Defence Forces with regard to all three services and all ranks; the gender breakdown of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33129/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra494. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of additional recruits the Reserve Defence Forces have taken on to date in 2017 with regard to all services; the gender breakdown of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33131/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra496. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of days spent at sea by members of the Naval Service Reserve in 2016 and to date in 2017. [33133/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 492, 494 and 496 together.
As of 31 May, 2017 (the latest date for which figures are available), the effective strength of the Army Reserve and Naval Reserve was 1,941 personnel. The following table sets out the details requested by the Deputy:
Army Reserve (effective strength)
|
Rank |
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
Lt. Colonel |
5 |
0 |
5 |
|
Commandant |
49 |
2 |
51 |
|
Captain |
40 |
1 |
41 |
|
Lieutenant |
160 |
30 |
190 |
|
Sergeant Major |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
Battalion Quarter Master Sergeant |
5 |
0 |
5 |
|
Company Sergeant |
45 |
0 |
45 |
|
Company Quarter Master Sergeant |
56 |
2 |
58 |
|
Sergeant |
238 |
19 |
257 |
|
Corporal |
279 |
68 |
347 |
|
Private |
693 |
125 |
818 |
|
Total |
1,572 |
247 |
1,819 |
Naval Service Reserve (effective strength)
|
Rank |
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
Lt. Colonel |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Commandant |
4 |
0 |
4 |
|
Captain |
5 |
0 |
5 |
|
Lieutenant |
6 |
1 |
7 |
|
Sergeant Major |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Battalion Quarter Master Sergeant |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Company Sergeant |
6 |
0 |
6 |
|
Company Quarter Master Sergeant |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Sergeant |
10 |
0 |
10 |
|
Corporal |
17 |
5 |
22 |
|
Private |
53 |
14 |
67 |
|
Total |
102 |
20 |
122 |
I am informed by the military authorities that as of 10th July 2017, there have been 90 new inductions into the RDF, with 8 of these being female as follows:
- 76 (7 female) Army Reserve and
- 14 (1 female) Naval Service Reserve.
With regard to the First Line Reserve and number of days spent at sea by members of the Naval Service Reserve in 2016 and 2017, the military authorities are currently collating this data and I will provide it to the Deputy when it is available.
The next RDF General Service Recruitment campaigns for both the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve will begin in late July 2017. The campaigns will run for several weeks post Leaving Certificate with a view to inducting successful applicants at Easter and in Summer 2018 for camp participation. I remain committed to increasing recruitment to both the PDF and RDF. In the context of both finite resources and personnel, it is necessary to strike an appropriate balance in terms of PDF and RDF recruitment, so as to deliver the desired effects of maintaining the capacity of the Defence Forces to undertake all roles assigned to it by Government.
