Chris Andrews (Dublin South East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 84: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will ask Irish Aid to strengthen its relationship with the Defence Forces on its UN peace building missions, increasing the money available to assist the beleaguered communities in Kosovo, Chad and other places where the Defence Forces serve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34030/07]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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As part of their participation in peace support operations, the Defence Forces have traditionally adopted a number of small-scale humanitarian operations in support of the local communities where they are deployed. Recent examples of this are in Liberia and Kosovo. The main source of funding towards this humanitarian work comes in the form of a financial subvention from the Irish Aid Programme, which is administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs, supplemented by voluntary contributions of contingent members.

This has proved to be a very effective means of supporting the communities and integrating our forces into the local community and I expect this arrangement with Irish Aid to continue. However, it must be remembered that the primary role of the Defence Forces, when deployed overseas, is to undertake essential peacekeeping and peacemaking operations. In the case of Chad, since 2006 Irish Aid has provided humanitarian funding of €6.15 million to United Nations agencies working in Chad such as UNHCR, OCHA, UNDP and UNICEF and to the French NGO Medicines Sans Frontieres and Concern Worldwide.

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 86: To ask the Minister for Defence his views on the shortage of fitters for service with overseas units; the steps he proposes to take to alleviate these shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34436/07]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the military authorities that the current establishment for fitters, known in military terms as technicians, is 255. At present, there are 165 trained technicians in the Defence Forces and 86 technicians undergoing training. Currently, there are 7 technicians deployed on overseas missions. There is no shortage of technicians at present for overseas units.