Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 64: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of occasions the Defence Forces have been asked to assist in searches for missing persons since 1998; the locations of these searches; the expertise and specialised equipment the Defence Forces hold that would be useful in such searches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34747/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Defence Forces maintain specialist Search and Clearance teams for deployment in each brigade area of the Defence Forces and on most overseas deployments. These teams comprise of specially trained personnel from the Corps of Engineers. They are trained to operate a wide range of specialist detection equipment, including metal detection systems.

The Defence Forces provide assistance to An Garda Síochána in searches for missing persons as aid to the civil power. The information requested in relation to searches conducted since 1998 is set out in the following table.