Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 110: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position with regard to the operation of the voluntary humanitarian corps by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18730/07]

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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A recruitment campaign was launched across the national media seeking applications to join the Rapid Response Corps in early February 2007.

This first recruitment round was completed on 21 June. I am very pleased with the response received and, more particularly, the depth, breadth and range of experience of the individuals who applied, as well as their willingness and enthusiasm to be involved.

Following a rigorous selection and interview process, sixty-four people have been invited to become members of the Rapid Response Corps in this first recruitment round.

The first group of twenty-four members of the Corps recently completed the compulsory pre-deployment training. The intensive training programme was designed and delivered in co-operation with the Kimmage Development Studies Centre (D-Talk) and the Defence Forces UN School (UNTSI).

This first group is now undergoing pre-departure medical screening and receiving the necessary vaccinations to enable them to be deployed anywhere in the world.

The next training session, at which the remaining members of the Corps will be trained, will take place between 29 August and 5 September.

A formal standby partnership agreement has already been signed with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Similar agreements will shortly be signed with two more partner agencies, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

It is anticipated that members of the Rapid Response Corps will be ready to deploy from the autumn.