Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 619: To ask the Minister for Defence the full intended strength of members of the Army, Navy and Air-Corp expected to serve overseas on UN or EU missions in the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6784/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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As of 1 February 2008, a total of 427 members of the Permanent Defence Force is serving overseas. Of the 427 currently serving overseas, 413 are Army personnel, 8 are Air Corps personnel and 6 are members of the Naval Service.

The deployment of some 50 Army Ranger Wing (ARW) personnel to the European Union military mission to Chad and the Central African Republic, EUFOR TCHAD/RCA is scheduled to take place tomorrow. It is expected that the main deployment of some 400 Irish troops to the mission area will be completed by mid to late May 2008. This will bring the overall number of Defence Forces personnel serving overseas to 870 approximately.