Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As of 30 June 2013, Ireland is contributing approximately 449 Defence Forces personnel to 13 different missions throughout the world. Full details of all personnel currently serving overseas are listed in the tabular statement together with details of the latest available costings which are in respect of 2012.

The main overseas missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, with 361 personnel, including the Deputy Force Commander; the EU Training Mission, EUTM, Somalia with 11 personnel, including the Mission Commander; the EU Training Mission in Mali, EUTM Mali, with eight personnel; the EUFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina with seven personnel; the NATO-led international security presence, KFOR, in Kosovo with 12 personnel; and the International Security Assistance Force, ISAF, in Afghanistan with seven personnel. Ireland also contributes 24 observers and staff to various United Nations and OSCE missions and 19 other personnel to staff appointments at UN, EU and OSCE headquarters. The current contribution of some 449 personnel to overseas missions reflects the Government's continued commitment to our responsibilities in the area of international peace and security.

The costs in respect of Defence Forces participation in UN, EU and NATO-led peace support operations, which include allowances, together with travel and subsistence and transportation costs, for troops and freight, for 2012, amount to €15,755,554. The net cost, allowing for UN reimbursements amounts to €5,185,014.

The UN reimburses some personnel and contingent owned equipment costs in respect of contributions of personnel to UN-led operations. Rates of reimbursement, fixed in accordance with UN categories of equipment and personnel, are agreed in a Memorandum of Understanding between Ireland and the UN for each mission. The only mission for which Ireland is currently entitled to reimbursement of some troop and equipment costs, is the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon UNIFIL.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

Ireland is not entitled to any reimbursement in respect of Defence Forces participation in EU-led or NATO-led missions as all troop contributors to such missions are responsible for their own costs.

1. UN Missions
(i)	UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) HQ UNIFIL 108th Infantry Battalion UNIFIL Sector West HQ	16 337 8
(ii)	UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation) - Israel and Syria	13
(iii)	MINURSO (United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara)
(iv)	MONUSCO (United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo)	3
(v)	UNOCI (United Nations Mission in Ivory Coast)	2
(vi)	UNDOF (United Nations Disengagement Observer Force in Syria)	3
	TOTAL	385
UN Mandated Missions
(vii)	EUFOR (EU-led Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina)	7
(viii)	EUTM Somalia (EU-led Training Mission )	11
(ix)	EUTM Mali (EU-Led Training Mission)	8
(x)	KFOR (International Security Presence in Kosovo) - HQ	12
(xi)	ISAF (International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan)	7
	TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING WITH UN MISSIONS	430
2. Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
(i)	OSCE Mission to Bosnia & Herzegovina	2
(ii)	OSCE Mission in Belgrade - Serbia	1
(iii)	Staff Officer, High Level Planning Group, Vienna	1
	TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING OSCE	4
3. EU Military Staff
	Brussels	4

4. Military Representatives/Advisers/Staff

(i)	Military Adviser, Permanent Mission to UN, New York - 1
(ii)	Military Adviser, Irish Delegation to OSCE, Vienna - 1
(iii)	Military Representative to EU (Brussels) - 5
(iv)	Liaison Office of Ireland, NATO/PfP (Brussels) -2
(v)	EU OHQ Operation Althea, Mons, Belgium - 1
(vi)	European Defence Agency (EDA) Brussels -1

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEFENCE FORCES PERSONNEL SERVING OVERSEAS

449

Costs in respect of Defence Forces participation in UN, EU and NATO led peace support operations in 2012

Mission	Total Costs
UNIFIL - Lebanon	€13,545,947
KFOR - Kosovo	€473,338
EUFOR (Bosnia Herzegovina)	€332,548
EUTM Somalia	€341,657
ISAF - Afghanistan	€330,435
UNOCI - Ivory Coast	€71,915
MINURSO/UNTSO	€515,039
MONUC - Congo	€100,030
UNSMIS - Syria (finished 19/8/12)	€44,645
TOTAL		€15,755,554
Reimbursements Received from UN	€10,570,540
Net Cost		€5,185,014

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