29. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Defence for an update on her Department's plans for establishing an allowance for members of the Reserve Defence Forces. [46113/26]

I recognise the value of the Reserve Defence Force as an asset to the country. I am delighted to see that the last few years we have witnessed a resurgence in the Reserve.

I welcome the introduction of Supplemental Military Service (SMS) for the Reserve Defence Force, which will regularise RDF activities to support the Permanent Defence Force. The introduction of SMS for members of the RDF updates a previous administrative system to ensure consistency with the provisions of the Defence (Amendment) Act 2021. Membership of the RDF is voluntary and members of the RDF are in part time service of the State.

Supplemental Military Service includes such military service both within or outside the State and is remunerated. Members of the RDF deployed on Supplemental Military Service are entitled to the benefits of the Working Time Directive as well as appropriate allowances and subsistence.

The RDF budget continues to increase in pace with the enhanced role of the RDF and provides for paid training and support duties (SMS), miscellaneous allowances and the payment of gratuities to members of the First Line Reserve.

To illustrate this, a budget of €3.5m was allocated in 2025, a substantial increase over the 2024 budget, and the final 2025 expenditure amounted to €3.542m. The budget has been further increased in 2026 to €4.535m.

I wish to assure the Deputy of my continuing support for the regeneration of all aspects of the RDF, as is emphasised by significant increases to the RDF budget. One of my key goals as Minister for Defence, 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.