Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 8, 11, 16, 23, 40, 44, 50, 232 and 235 together.

Preparations for the deployment of the 97th Infantry Battalion to the UN mandated European Union military mission to Chad and the Central African Republic are being implemented in a series of carefully planned phases. To date preparations are on schedule. A total of 394 members of the Permanent Defence Force are serving with this mission at present. Included in this figure is the first chalk of 162 members of the 97th infantry battalion, who arrived in Chad on 19 May, the Army Ranger Wing and the advance party. The final deployment of a further 140 personnel, of whom eight will be deployed to the force headquarters in Abeche and 132 with the 97th infantry battalion, is scheduled to take place on 1 June. A number of the advance group, who were deployed to construct the camp and transport the equipment, will be repatriated in early June. Twenty-eight personnel were subject to mandatory selection for the mission to date. The total deployment with this mission, following the withdrawal of the advance party and the Army Ranger Wing, will amount to 425 personnel.

Irish personnel, operating from the port of Douala in Cameroon have organised the movement forward by road, rail and air of the Defence Forces equipment to the headquarters of the Irish battalion at Goz Beida in eastern Chad, a distance of approximately 2,700 km. Priority equipment and vehicles already have arrived in Goz Beida and the remaining equipment is en route at present.

Key enablers, in particular tactical and medevac helicopters and medical facilities, are in place thus allowing the mission to proceed. Having being satisfied that the capabilities required to support EUFOR's main force deployment had been established, Lieutenant General Nash, the EUFOR operation commander, declared the mission had achieved initial operational capability on 15 March 2008. This marked the start date for the 12-month duration of the operation as set out in UN Security Council Resolution 1778.

Camp construction in Goz Beida is progressing well. Tented structures and multi-functional vehicle service tents have been erected. Ablution units with shower facilities and toilet units also have been constructed and are operational. The water towers also have been erected. More tentage is expected to arrive in Goz Beida shortly, which will enable completion of camp construction. The fuel farm holds 280,000 litres at present.

The EUFOR mission has contracted Economat des Armées, EDA, which is a French company, for the provision of logistics support to all troop-contributing nations to the EUFOR mission. This will include the delivery of fresh rations, which will commence on 29 May 2008. Defence Forces logistics personnel will monitor the quality and level of this service to Irish personnel serving in Goz Beida.

The number of resupply flights that will be used in support of Irish troops on the EUFOR Chad mission will be determined by the immediate requirements of troops on the ground and, therefore, this will determine the frequency of flights. The load that is being carried, not the number of seats that are on the aircraft, will determine the type of aircraft that will be utilised. The primary function of the sustainment flights will be to deliver supplies and services to the battalion in theatre.

There are no plans at present to provide subsidised leave flights for any personnel on the mission. The Irish personnel serving at the force headquarters will serve a six-month tour of duty. They will be able to avail of leave, dependent on the force commander's instructions, during that tour of duty. However, all costs associated with ongoing leave will be borne by the individual.

Support flights are primarily to deliver supplies and services necessary for the day-to-day sustainment of our troops. However, the frequency of the support flights may allow for a limited parcel facility to be offered to the next of kin at Christmas 2008.

The theatre of operations for the Chad deployment poses serious logistical challenges due to the nature of the operation as well as the mission area and environment. Force protection will, as always, be a key consideration and the Defence Forces will have all the required military hardware to fulfil their role in the mission. The Defence Forces have deployed a full range of force protection assets, including 17 Mowag APCs and four close reconnaissance vehicles and indirect fire capabilities, that is, mortars. These will provide the necessary armoured protection, mobility, firepower and communications. The military authorities have indicated that while the level of risk is consistent with any operational deployment into a troubled African State, it is one which the Defence Forces have the capability to manage.

The Defence Forces have deployed a suite of secure, robust, state-of-the art tactical communications systems to the EUFOR mission. These systems have been deployed in appropriate quantities to support the effective conduct of operations. The Defence Forces communications and information services corps are providing satellite communications and high frequency radio, e-mail and telephone access to the Defence Forces' networked management and administration information systems. In addition, all personnel will be provided with the facilities to make telephone calls to family and friends and will have access to the Internet.

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