Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 228: To ask the Minister for Defence if it has been determined the extent of military hardware, transport, communication and logistical equipment required in such operations as are in place for the Irish contingent to Chad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26323/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, significant investment has been made in Defence Forces equipment in recent years to provide them with the most modern equipment to undertake tasks assigned to them by Government. The equipment issued to the Defence Forces is also in keeping with the most modern requirements from the health and safety perspective. On-going investment in the Defence Forces will ensure that this remains to be the case and will continue to be a key focus for me as Minister for Defence.

The equipment provided to Defence Forces personnel serving both at home and on overseas missions ensures that troops are able to carry out their assigned missions, as well as providing the required protection specific to each particular mission. In the case of the EU mission to Chad and the Central African Republic, the Defence Forces have deployed a full range of Force Protection assets and communication and logistical equipment. The Force Protection assets include twenty-one Mowag APCs, armoured vehicles and indirect fire capabilities.

On-going threat assessments are carried out in mission areas in which Irish troops are serving and a continuous review process on both personal equipment and force assets is in place to ensure that Defence Forces personnel are appropriately equipped to fulfil their role and discharge their mandate on an on-going basis.