Update: Reserved Armed Forces, 26th June 2015

QUESTION NO:   125  
 
* To ask the Minister for Defence the current strength of the reserved armed forces in the army, navy and air corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter.  
 

 
Ref No: 25599/15 Proof: 138
 
 

Minister for Defence (Mr. Simon Coveney, T.D.):  
 
In line with one of the recommendations of the VFM Review which provided for retention of a reorganised Reserve with a strength of approximately 4,000 personnel,   the establishment of the Army and Naval Service Reserve is 4,069, comprising of 3,869 Army Reservists and 200 Naval Service Reservists. There is no specified strength level for the First Line Reserve.

The effective strength of the Army and Naval Service Reserve as at 31 ^st  May, 2015 was 2,197 personnel comprising of 2,070 Army Reservists and 127 Naval Service Reservists. The First Line Reserve comprised of a total of 243 personnel as at 31 ^st  May, 2015.

Implementation of the VFM Review recommendations is ongoing and progress is being kept under review. Future requirements for the Reserve are being considered in the context of the development of the new White Paper on Defence.