Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 April 2024
157. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his proposals to address delays regarding administration and medical testing which are unduly slowing down the recruitment of Reserve Defence Forces personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14963/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government remains committed to bolstering the numbers in the RDF. In that context the upper recruitment and mandatory retirement ages for the RDF were recently increased to match those for the Permanent Defence Force.
The structure and strength of the RDF is a key focus of the Defence Forces Office of Reserve Affairs (ORA) which was established recently in line with a recommendation from the Commission on the Defence Forces Report (CODF).
A recruitment drive for the RDF was launched last year in October 2023, which was advertised across a number of media channels.
The induction of personnel has been facilitated through the implementation of the Managed Induction Process whereby each applicant is assigned a Recruitment Liaison Officer (RLO) who maintains contact with them throughout the induction process. The aim of this close liaison is to facilitate an expeditious and efficient recruitment process from application to attestation. 41 RDF units are currently open for applications from potential recruits. Each of these units has at least one Recruitment Liaison Officer.
This competition is ongoing and I am advised that the ORA are supporting the induction process at all stages. To date, work continues on the 621 live applications currently proceeding through the system, with over 389 interviews concluded, 299 fitness tests, 81 part 1 medicals completed, 153 with both parts 1 and 2 medicals completed, and 40 applicants already attested.
Given the voluntary nature of RDF service and the fact that applicants have other competing responsibilities, there will always be a challenge in terms of availability of the potential recruit when the slot for their medical is available and vice versa.
Some measures have been taken, however, to improve the administration of medicals. For example, work has been completed on streamlining the two-stage medical process and fitness testing is now completed before medicals; an on boarding process is in place for suitable candidates which enables them to undergo approved early phase recruit training which helps to maintain their connection with the RDF while they await the medical process.
The Chief of Staff also approved the assignment of additional medical resources to ensure the completion of further induction medicals in April 2024.
The ultimate goal is the development of a Reserve Force that can seamlessly train, operate and deploy on a voluntary basis, with the Permanent Defence Force, both on-island and overseas. The amendment in 2021 to the Defence Act pertaining to the Reserve provides for this.
I would like to assure the Deputy that it is my aim, and that of the Chief of Staff, to ensure that the regeneration of the RDF remains a key goal in 2024 and beyond.
