Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 274: To ask the Minister for Defence the cost of delivering the international military observers and staff officers course to foreign soldiers in the Curragh; and the source or sources of payment for same. [6267/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The international military observers and staff officers course, IMOSOC, is one of the courses run by the United Nations Training School Ireland, UNTSI, a constituent school of the Military College. The three week course is run annually and introduces middle rank officers from foreign armed forces and the Irish Defence Forces to the theory and practice of UN peace support operations so as to enable them to perform the duties of military observer and staff officer with professional competence, serve as UN military observers and senior staff officers at a UN force headquarters and operate effectively as part of a large international staff.

Foreign participants are charged a course fee of €450 each for their participation in IMOSOC. These fees would be paid by the relevant foreign military organisation or by the relevant national Department of Defence. A number of Defence Forces personnel also participate in the course.