Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 October 2019
104. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number, appointments, functions and ranks held by Reserve Defence Forces personnel gazetted to specialist reserve staff; if the decision per 8.5.3 in the White Paper has been implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40024/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government appreciates the service of the members of the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) and the White Paper is clear that there is a continued requirement to retain and develop the RDF.
Under the current phase of implementation of White Paper actions outlined in Section 8.5.3, a project was established to:
- conduct a skills survey to identify individuals in the First Line Reserve, Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve with relevant professional qualifications and their potential availability and
- establish a panel of professionally qualified members of the RDF, to be known as the Specialist Reserve.
The skills survey has been completed and this project is currently paused pending completion of a linked project relating to a gap analysis of skill-sets in the Permanent Defence Force (PDF). Preliminary work has been undertaken within the PDF to identify the frequency of gaps and appropriate measures to address them.
The work undertaken on these projects will also now inform and complement relevant projects of Phase One of the High Level Implementation Plan for the recommendations of the Public Service Pay Commission's report on recruitment and retention issues in the PDF.
Currently there is no establishment for a Specialist Reserve, therefore no RDF personnel are gazetted to any corresponding appointment.
