Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 90: To ask the Minister for Defence the full extent of proposed participation by members of the Army, Navy and Air-Corps in EU or UN sponsored overseas peacekeeping or peace maintenance engagements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42802/08]

Michael Kennedy (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of Irish troops serving overseas; the number of troops who have served overseas in 2007 and 2008; if this number will rise or fall in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42652/08]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 122: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will provide a breakdown of the locations of Defence Forces members who are overseas; and the number in each location. [42803/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 212: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel on overseas duty under the EU or UN flag; the number of applications for such services pending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43098/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 90, 100, 122 and 212 together.

Ireland is currently contributing 736 Defence Forces personnel to 13 different missions throughout the world. Full details of all personnel currently serving overseas are listed in the table. While personnel from all services are liable for and do serve overseas, as a matter of policy Air Corps and Naval assets are not deployed overseas. In 2007, members of the Permanent Defence Force completed 1,646 individual tours of duty. In 2008, 1,411 tours of duty are expected to be completed by members of the Permanent Defence Force. It is envisaged that approximately 1,500 tours will be undertaken by Defence Forces personnel in 2009.

Officers volunteer for overseas service on a six monthly basis. Currently 220 Officers are on the list of officer volunteers for the period January – June 2009. Officers volunteer by mission duration (i.e. six-month or one-year missions). Enlisted Personnel volunteer for overseas service on a mission-by-mission basis. These applications are processed at Unit and Formation level. In the case of the next rotation for the EUFOR TCHAD/RCA mission (99th Infantry Battalion), the bulk of the volunteers for this mission will be selected from the Eastern Brigade, which is the current Lead Brigade. It is not possible at this stage to confirm the total number of applications received for service with this mission. On occasions, mandatory selection of personnel may be required for specialist posts.

With regard to future deployments, Ireland receives requests, from time to time, in relation to participation in various missions and these are considered on a case-by-case basis. When considering any particular request, the existence of realistic objectives and a clear mandate, which has the potential to contribute to a long-term solution, consideration of how the mission relates to the priorities of Irish foreign policy and the degree of risk involved are amongst the factors considered.