Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 441: To ask the Minister for Defence when he last visited the Irish Army personnel (details supplied) in Liberia; the number of personnel he had accompanying him; the cost of the travel and the hotel accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42687/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I last visited Liberia during the period from 28 February 2006 to 2 March 2006 where I met with Irish personnel of 94th Infantry Battalion serving with UNMIL. A party of 10 people accompanied me on this trip which included five members of the media. The Gulfstream aircraft was tasked with this mission and all 10 members of the party travelled with me on this aircraft.

My Department follows the normal practice in the aviation business of costing aircraft by reference to the cost per flying hour under either of two headings: direct cost, i.e. the costs which are additional to those associated with having the aircraft and which only arise when the aircraft is flown including maintenance, fuel and support services; and total cost, i.e. the direct cost plus the costs associated with having the aircraft, such as depreciation and personnel costs.

The total flying time of this mission to and from Liberia was 1,120 minutes. The total ministerial time on board was 840 minutes. An additional cost of €158.16 for taxi fares and mileage allowances associated with this trip was paid for by my Department. A total amount of €1,604.44 was paid by my Department for hotel accommodation for myself and my officials. No cost was incurred by my Department for hotel accommodation for members of the media.

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 442: To ask the Minister for Defence the arrangements that were made by his Department to have letters, parcels and so on delivered to the 94th battalion UNMIL serving in Liberia; his views on the fact that the postal services had to be paid for by one of the national papers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42688/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Irish Battalion withdrew from the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) in May 2007 and no members of the Defence Forces are currently serving with UNMIL. While the Defence Forces were serving in UNMIL, there was no postal system operating to or within Liberia. The Defence Forces, therefore, contracted a commercial courier to deliver post to and from Defence Forces personnel serving with UNMIL. This contract was for letter post only which was dispatched through this contract twice weekly (Monday and Thursday) throughout the year. The contract was maintained until the Irish Battalion withdrew from UNMIL in mid-2007.

A limited parcel post facility was extended to personnel serving with UNMIL over the Christmas periods, from 2004 to 2006 inclusive, through re-supply flights contracted by the Defence Forces. I have no information of any initiative by a national newspaper facilitating post or otherwise to Defence Forces personnel serving with UNMIL.