Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 67: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the type of pre-departure training and preparation the volunteers in the Rapid Response Corps have completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29325/07]

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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All members of the Rapid Response Corps are obliged before deployment to participate in an intensive training programme. Two training programmes were held during 2007.

The training, which was designed especially for the Rapid Response Corps, is delivered in two parts over 6 days by the Kimmage Development Studies Centre (D-TALK) in Dublin and by the Defence Forces UN School (UNTSI) at the Curragh Camp.

The D-TALK component covers issues such as working in humanitarian emergencies, humanitarian law, UN systems, UN humanitarian reform, civil/military cooperation, and medical and stress preparation. The Defence Forces address issues relating to personal security and communications in the field, as well as basic first aid.

The training has been particularly well received by the participants and I am very grateful to D-TALK and UNTSI, and to the Department of Defence, for their assistance and cooperation to Irish Aid in designing and running the courses provided.

All Rapid Response Corps members are required to undergo a medical check by medical practitioners expert in the field of travel health. Irish Aid has agreed with those medical practitioners that all Corps members are medically prepared, as far as it is possible to do so, for deployments anywhere in the world. Finally, all members must be deemed fit for duty by those practitioners before they will be considered for a deployment.

There are also ongoing opportunities for members of the Corps to volunteer for training courses organised and delivered by our UN partners.

Fifty two (52) Rapid Response Corps members are now ready to deploy if needed, having completed their pre-departure training and checks.