David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 28: To ask the Minister for Defence the level of Defence Forces support that will be sent to Sudan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17528/05]

Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 47: To ask the Minister for Defence the situation regarding the UN's request to Ireland for peacekeeping forces in Sudan; if the risk assessment on Sudan has yet taken place (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17557/05]

Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 66: To ask the Minister for Defence the position with regard to his consideration of the request received from the UN for Irish troops to be deployed to Sudan as part of a multinational peacekeeping force established to police the recent peace accord; when a decision will be made on the request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17607/05]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 47 and 66 together.

The United Nations department of peacekeeping operations, UNDPKO, has invited Ireland to contribute a small number of Defence Forces personnel to act as UN military observers, UNMOs, with the recently established United Nations mission in the Sudan. The request to participate in the peacekeeping operation in Sudan is being given careful consideration, as are all such requests from the UN.

The mission is to support the comprehensive peace agreement for southern Sudan signed by the government of Sudan and the SPLM/A, Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army, in Nairobi on 9 January 2005. Ireland has been strongly supportive of the peace process in Sudan generally and also in the troubled region of Darfur, providing financial support to the African Union mission, AMIS, there as well as seconding an army officer to it. Ireland has also contributed considerable aid support to Sudan. Last month, Ireland announced that it will provide €15 million for the recovery and reconstruction of Sudan for the period 2005-07.

A risk assessment has been conducted by the Defence Forces on the current situation in the Sudan. The degree of risk involved in this mission is among the factors being taken into account in considering the UN request. Assessment of this request also needs to take into account the numbers of Permanent Defence Force personnel available for overseas service at present. We currently have 740 troops serving abroad out of a total of 850 maintained on UNSAS, UN standby arrangements system. This number can fluctuate; it was approximately 770 some months ago. It is expected that a decision on the UN request will be made shortly.