Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 October 2020
196. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Defence the effective strength and the establishment strength of the Reserve Defence Force by rank in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29804/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Reserve Defence Force (RDF) is comprised of the First Line Reserve (FLR), the Army Reserve (AR) and the Naval Service Reserve (NSR).
End of month strength returns are collated at the mid-month point of the following month and hence September 2020 returns are not available at this time. The most up to date figures available therefore for the effective strength of the Army Reserve (AR) and Naval Service Reserve (NSR), are as of 31 August 2020, and are set out below.
A key ongoing challenge for the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve is to recruit and retain personnel and there continues to be a shortfall between the current strength figures and the establishment of 4,069 personnel.
The restrictions imposed in the interests of public health as a result of the Covid 19 Pandemic have had a significant impact on many Defence Forces activities, particularly those involving collective training. As a result, it has been difficult to conduct RDF inductions. Nevertheless, a recruitment campaign for the AR and NSR was opened in March 2020 and 63 new members have been inducted so far this year.
I wish to assure the Deputy of the Government's continued commitment to on-going recruitment in the AR and NSR and I am advised that, while there are no specific dates as of yet, it is anticipated that another recruitment campaign for the AR and NSR will be opened in autumn 2020.
|
LT COL |
COMDT |
CAPT |
LT |
TOTAL OFFR |
SM |
BQMS |
CS |
CQMS |
SGT |
CPL |
TOTAL NCO |
PTE |
TOTAL |
|
|
AR |
5 |
46 |
79 |
99 |
229 |
1 |
4 |
25 |
40 |
246 |
278 |
573 |
699 |
1501 |
|
NR |
0 |
4 |
8 |
11 |
23 |
0 |
4 |
6 |
0 |
13 |
13 |
36 |
64 |
123 |
The substantive strength of the First Line Reserve (FLR) as of 31 August 2020 is as follows:
|
FORMATION |
OFFR |
NCO |
PTE |
TOTAL |
|
AR |
1 |
15 |
135 |
151 |
|
AC |
- |
4 |
22 |
26 |
|
NS |
3 |
14 |
86 |
103 |
|
TOTAL |
4 |
33 |
243 |
280 |
The combined establishment for the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve is 4,069 personnel, as broken down in the table below:
|
ESTABLISHMENT |
LT COL |
COMDT |
CAPT |
LT |
TOTAL OFFR |
SM |
BQMS |
CS |
CQMS |
SGT |
CPL |
TOTAL NCO |
PTE |
TOTAL |
|
Army Reserve (AR) |
5 |
60 |
107 |
110 |
282 |
1 |
- |
38 |
38 |
301 |
708 |
1086 |
2501 |
3869 |
|
ESTABLISHMENT |
LT CDR |
LT |
TOTAL OFFR |
WO |
SCPO |
CPO |
PO |
LS |
TOTAL NCO |
SMN |
TOTAL |
|
Naval Service Reserve (NSR) |
4 |
20 |
24 |
- |
4 |
8 |
16 |
32 |
60 |
116 |
200 |
