The Reserves number just 1,411 personnel or one-third of its intended strength, and many applicants ‘drift away’ due to long wait for screenings
Members of the Defence Forces take part in the St Patrick's Day parade in Dublin on Sunday. Photograph: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images
Lilly Higgins: My coddle is a bit different to the Irish classic recipe, but it’s still a one-pot wonderSt Patrick’s Day Quiz 2024: 50 questions to test your IrishologyIn the meantime, many lose interest in becoming a member and “drift away”, according to the Reserve Defence Force Representative Association .
In order to qualify, applicants must pass an interview phase, a fitness test, security vetting and a medical screening. “Over the past several years, this lack of medical capacity has consistently resulted in high numbers of RDF applicants who have passed the fitness test, interview and security vetting essentially being bottlenecked when it comes to the medical screening phase,” Mr Richardson said.
He said 145 applicants are engaged in the medical screening process and a further 100 additional medicals have been scheduled for March and April.
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