Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 8, inclusive, 18 and 21 together.

On 26 February 2013, the Government approved the deployment of approximately eight members of the Permanent Defence Force to the EU training mission in Mali, which has been authorised by the United Nations under UN Security Council Resolution 2071 (2012), to provide military training to the Malian armed forces.

The Irish personnel to be deployed in Mali have completed their pre-deployment training. The exact date of the Irish deployment to Mali is yet to be confirmed. However, we expect this date to be confirmed by the European Union on 15 March 2013. It is expected that Irish personnel will deploy into the mission area around 23 March 2013.

The Irish contribution to the mission will comprise three officers and five non-commissioned officers. One officer will deploy to the mission headquarters in Bamako and another to the training camp headquarters. The remaining six personnel who constitute the Defence Forces training team will also deploy to the training camp in Koulikoro and will form part of a joint infantry training team with the United Kingdom armed forces.

All troop contributors to the new mission will be responsible for their own costs. The estimated cost to the Defence Force of eight personnel will amount to approximately €632,000 for the duration of the mission’s mandate of 15 months. This figure includes Ireland’s contribution of €120,000 to the common costs of the mission.

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