Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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14. To ask the Minister for Defence the locations to which Defence Forces' unmanned aerial vehicle systems have been deployed operationally in the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46645/13]

Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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This question relates to the Defence Forces' unmanned aerial vehicle assistance, or drones as they are more commonly known. Drones have been in the news a lot in the last year or so. We do not have any offensive drones in the Defence Forces. I am interested to see where they have been used operationally over the past couple of years.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I am satisfied that the level of resources available to the Defence Forces, including training, equipment and up to date technology, enables the Defence Forces to carry out their roles both at home and overseas. All elements of defence expenditure were examined for the comprehensive review of expenditure in 2011. In response to these resource constraints, the defence organisation has undertaken further significant reorganisation and reform.

In dealing with the issue of the drones which was raised by Deputy Pringle, the last occasion on which they were required to be utilised in the context of operational use was in Chad. They are available to the Defence Forces for use should they be required and there are still training engagements with them. However, the nature of the UN duties in which troops are currently engaged abroad has not been such as to require the use of drones.