270. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Defence to provide the total numbers of active personnel within the Reserve Defence Forces (RDF) for each year for the past ten years; the recruitment targets for the RDF for 2026; the number of applications to the most recent RDF recruitment competition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62550/26]

My key priority is the modernisation of our Defence Forces, and revitalising our Reserve Defence Forces is a vital part of that transformation process.

The Reserve Defence Force (RDF) Regeneration Plan published in July 2024, contains 27 actions across four objectives, namely: Recruit & Retain; Resource; Train & Educate and Integrate & Deploy.

One of the 4 operational objectives of this Plan is to improve the induction process with the aim of achieving an effective strength of 80% by 2028. To this end the Defence Forces have set a baseline target of 300 inductions for 2026.

The current recruitment campaign commenced in October 2023 and has remained open since that time. The military authorities have advised that it has not been possible, within the time frame available, to provide the details of the number of applications received since October 2023. I will provide these details to the Deputy when this information is to hand.

The military authorities have provided the following information in respect of the total Second Line Reserve Strength for each year for the past ten years;

*As of 31st July 2026

Other areas of work underway in the Reserve Defence Force sphere include:

• A new RDF Recruitment system, which will result in a more streamlined and user-friendly process for applicants;

• A significant RDF advertising awareness campaign will launch in mid September and will be coordinated across all media modes including television and radio adverts, to raise the public’s awareness of the opportunities available in the RDF;

• A substantial expansion of the RDF budget which continues to increase in pace with the enhanced role of the RDF. To illustrate this, the budget allocation in 2025 was €3.542m and I have further increased it to €4.535m for 2026.

• The launch of Supplemental Military Service on 1st June, which includes support military service both within or outside the State and will be remunerated. Members of the RDF deployed on Supplemental Military Service will also be entitled to the benefits of the Working Time Directive as well as appropriate allowances and subsistence.

These positive and transformational initiatives will raise the profile of the RDF and attract candidates.

I recognise the value of the Reserve Defence Force as an asset to the country. The last few years have witnessed a resurgence in the importance of the Reserve and the enhanced role being afforded to it by the Commission on the Defence Forces.

I had the opportunity to meet with the Reserve Defence Force representative body, RDFRA, recently and we had a very constructive discussion on the continued development of the Reserve. I can assure the Deputy as I assured RDFRA, that 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.