Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 164: To ask the Minister for Defence the number and location at which Ireland's Defence Forces are serving overseas; the possible demand in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26126/05]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland is currently contributing approximately 749 Defence Forces personnel to 19 different missions throughout the world. The main commitments are to: the United Nations Mission in Liberia, UNMIL, with 413 personnel; the NATO-led international security presence, KFOR, in Kosovo, with 210 personnel; and EUFOR, the EU-led operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with 54 personnel. Other personnel are serving as monitors and observers with the United Nations, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the European Union. Staff are also deployed at the organisational headquarters of the OSCE, the UN, NATO and the EU.

At present, Ireland subscribes to the United Nations Standby Arrangements System, UNSAS, under which the State offers to provide up to 850 personnel on overseas service at any given time. This is the maximum sustainable commitment that Ireland can make to overseas peacekeeping operations. It should be appreciated that at any one time one group of personnel will have just returned from service, one will be on overseas duty and a further group will be in training. There are no plans at this time to increase the level of our commitment to UNSAS.

Ireland receives requests from time to time concerning participation in various missions and these are considered on a case-by-case basis. Full details are as listed in the following tabular statement.