John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 379: To ask the Minister for Defence if the necessary medical facilities for the Irish EUFOR mission to Chad have been put in place; if a full level two surgical field hospital with operating theatres has been made available for the Irish troops; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7493/08]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 380: To ask the Minister for Defence the specific contingencies that have been made regarding strategic airlift services for any Irish casualties that may occur in Chad; the armed services or private entity that have been secured to provide those services for the Irish EUFOR mission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7494/08]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 381: To ask the Minister for Defence the overall strategic air lift cover and tactical air support being provided to the Irish EUFOR mission in Chad; if these arrangements have been finalised with the French armed forces or a private entity; if two medium to heavy lift helicopters have been secured for the use of the Irish troops in Chad on a permanent basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7495/08]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 382: To ask the Minister for Defence if all the issues regarding a lack of medical and logistical resources which have delayed the Irish EUFOR mission to Chad have been completely resolved; the logistical and medical deficiencies and shortfalls that have delayed the mission to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7496/08]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 383: To ask the Minister for Defence when he expects the full contingent of the Irish EUFOR mission to Chad to be fully deployed and active on the ground in Chad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7497/08]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 384: To ask the Minister for Defence if the full compliment of the Irish EUFOR mission is ready to leave for Chad immediately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7498/08]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 385: To ask the Minister for Defence the length of time it will take the Irish EUFOR mission to Chad, in its entirety, to travel to its intended positions in Chad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7499/08]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 386: To ask the Minister for Defence if the Irish Army and the Department have adequately sourced the requisite transport to take the Irish EUFOR mission, its equipment and materials, in its entirety from the west coast of Africa to Chad in safety; the length of time it is expected that this journey will take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7500/08]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 387: To ask the Minister for Defence if he is satisfied with the level of cooperation being given by the French armed forces; the type of assistance that will be provided to the Irish EUFOR mission in Chad by the French armed forces as part of the overall EUFOR mission; if there are outstanding issues of cooperation that need to be agreed between the Irish and French armed forces as it pertains to the mission in Chad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7501/08]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 388: To ask the Minister for Defence the facilities and equipment the Irish EUFOR mission to Chad has to keep essential medicines and fluids refrigerated and therefore viable for the duration of its journey to Chad; if it will have access to refrigeration for those essential medicines and fluids on the ground when deployed in Chad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7502/08]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 389: To ask the Minister for Defence when the rainy season begins in Chad. [7503/08]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 390: To ask the Minister for Defence when is the deadline for the Irish EUFOR mission to Chad to leave for Africa in view of the rainy season and the changing weather conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7504/08]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 391: To ask the Minister for Defence if it has been definitively agreed with the French armed services to provide the Irish EUFOR mission with military surveillance aircraft and unmanned drones in the Irish sector on a round the clock basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7505/08]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 392: To ask the Minister for Defence the type of availability and the number of French gunships to be at the disposal of the Irish EUFOR mission; if the terms and agreement of such cooperation have been finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7506/08]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 393: To ask the Minister for Defence if he has personal and frequent communications with the senior Irish Army officers planning the Irish EUFOR mission to Chad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7507/08]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 394: To ask the Minister for Defence if the logistical arrangements for the delivery of fuel and rations to the Irish EUFOR mission to Chad have been finalised; if France, the lead logistics nation, has indicated its full cooperation in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7508/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 379 to 394, inclusive, together.

The European Union military mission to Chad and the Central African Republic, EUFOR TCHAD/RCA, established under the authority of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1778 (2007), was formally launched by the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 28 January 2008. Ireland is expected to be the second largest contributor of troops to the mission, which aims to protect civilians in danger, particularly refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid, and protect UN personnel.

The lack of key enablers, in particular tactical and medevac helicopters and medical facilities, had delayed the commencement of the deployment of EUFOR troops to Chad last December. EUFOR's Operation Commander, Lt. General Nash, was adamant at the time that the deployment would not proceed until these vital components were in place.

Deployment of EUFOR personnel commenced last month before the outbreak of hostilities between Sudanese backed rebels and the Chadian forces on 2 and 3 February 2008, during which time the deployment was suspended. When the situation in Chad stabilised, the deployment of EUFOR's Initial Entry Force to Chad re-commenced on 12 February 2008.

At my meeting with the Operation Commander, Lt. General Nash, at the Operation Headquarters in Paris on 13 February 2008, he assured me that the capabilities required to support EUFOR's main force deployment will be established by mid-March 2008. The Operation Headquarters has since confirmed that there are now Role 2 facilities (Advanced life support, Basic surgery, Intensive care) in N'Djamena in Chad and in Birao in the Central African Republic. There is also a Role 1 facility in Abéché, which has the capability to provide emergency treatment to injured and acutely ill personnel. Air evacuation assets (1 x fixed wing medevac aircraft and 3 x designated medevac helicopters) are also currently in place.

A role 2 facility is due to be operational in Abéché before the deployment of the main body of troops. In addition, each Battalion will provide a Role 1 Medical Facility at the Battalion Headquarters (Goz Beida in the case of the Irish Battalion).

By mid-March 2008, the Operation Commander is planning that the mission will achieve initial operational capability with at least 1,200 troops in theatre. Planning for the follow on deployment of three multi-national Battalions, including the Irish Battalion, can then commence. The logistics of deploying the multi-national Battalions requires extensive planning as the vast majority of equipment etc., will arrive in Douala port in Cameroon and will be transported from there to the relevant operational sector. Lt. General Nash is satisfied that the Operation Headquarters will have the necessary logistical arrangements in place to accommodate this. Ireland and Sweden will be the first of the multi-nationals to deploy. The mission is planned to reach full operational capability by mid-May 2008.

The Defence Forces, in association with the Operation Headquarters, has in place a logistics operational planning process for the deployment of Irish troops to the mission. This includes a comprehensive plan for the over-ground movement of all Irish sea lifted assets and material from the port of Douala in Cameroon to the Irish Battalion's operating base in Goz Beida in south east Chad. The distance from the port to Goz Beida is estimated at more than 2,700 kilometres. It is estimated that the overall time for the transportation of equipment from Dublin to Goz Beida is approximately forty-nine (49) days.

I receive both operational and intelligence briefs regarding the deployment of Defence Forces personnel to the mission on an ongoing basis from the Defence Forces. The Chief of Staff also accompanied me on my recent visit to the Force's Operation Headquarters, where the Operation Commander briefed us.

The deployment of 53 Army Ranger Wing (ARW) personnel to Chad, as part of EUFOR's Initial Entry Force to the mission area, was completed on 21 February 2008, bringing the total number of personnel currently deployed to the mission in Chad to 56. This includes three personnel, who were deployed to Chad in January 2008 as part of the Command Group of the Force Headquarters. In addition, seventeen Defence Forces personnel are deployed at the Operation Headquarters in Paris.

A number of the ARW personnel remained in the Chadian capital, N'Djamena, pending the arrival by air of their transport vehicles and equipment this week. The remainder of the ARW personnel are currently deployed at their operational base in Abéché, a distance of 900 km from N'Djamena. The ARW personnel will be working in tandem with other EUFOR special forces and will focus immediately on identifying suitable base camp locations for the main body of Irish forces who are due to arrive over the coming weeks and months.

Based on current planning by the Defence Forces, in consultation with the Operation Headquarters, the advance group of the Irish (97th) Infantry Battalion is expected to deploy to Chad in late April 2008. The main body of the Battalion is expected to deploy in mid-May 2008, in advance of the rainy season, which commences in June.

On arrival in N'Djamena, members of the 97th Infantry Battalion will be moved forward to the Irish Camp at Goz Beida. This onward deployment from the capital will be either by road or by air or indeed a combination of both. To travel solely by road would take four days, by air one day.

I am satisfied with the level of co-operation being given by the French forces. During the initial planning phase for the EUFOR mission, the French Armed Forces assisted members of the Defence Forces by facilitating reconnaissance missions to Chad. The French also agreed to act as lead nation for logistics, supplying a Logistics Battalion to EUFOR TCHAD/RCA and this will prove to be of benefit to the Defence Forces during their deployment phase. I am advised that there are no outstanding issues between the French Armed Forces and the Defence Forces and that mechanisms are in place to resolve further requirements that may arise.

There are two French AF 342 attack Helicopters in theatre as part of the EUFOR mission, which are under the operational control of the Operational Commander. The likely tasks for these helicopters are, inter alia: force protection, surveillance, information gathering, early warning of possible threats and the provision of greater visibility to the commander in theatre.

Surveillance aircraft and unmanned drones are assets of the Force Commander and it is he who will task same, in accordance with force priorities. At certain times, they may be operating in the airspace of the 97th Infantry Battalion.

The provision of all aspects of the supply of Class 1 items, food and water, and Class 3 stores, Petrol, Oil and Lubricants to Irish troops in theatre is planned and forecasted. This supply will be delivered via the Force logistics system from the Forward Logistics Base in Abéché. Organic Irish assets will move the supply to the Forward Operating Base by road and air. There is full co-operation available to Ireland from France, the Logistics Lead Nation, in all aspects of support required within their means and capabilities.

The Defence Forces have developed a stress tested set of logistics capability packages for the deployment to Chad. This provides for the full spectrum of support and services to the individual soldier, and to the unit as a deployed entity. These packages also provide for specialist support for sensitive cargoes. In this context, the necessary refrigeration of essential medical supplies is provided for in the projection of assets, material and equipment into Chad. When the sensitive cargoes that have been under refrigeration arrive into Africa for onward movement, there are facilities in place to maintain the required refrigerated conditions. This process has been tested many times in past missions, and particularly so in deployments to Somalia, Eritrea and Liberia.