Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 113: To ask the Minister for Defence the annual cost of maintaining Irish troops in Chad; the support available either from the UN, the EU or otherwise towards this expenditure; and the projected length of the mission. [3352/09]

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 115: To ask the Minister for Defence his views on whether the EUFOR mission in Chad has been a success to date; the extent of future involvement of the Irish Defence Forces in the mission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3463/09]

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 141: To ask the Minister for Defence when a formal decision will be made to allow continued participation by members of Permanent Defence Forces with the peace keeping mission in Chad following the recent announcement of the Security Council that the United Nations should take over responsibility for the mission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3493/09]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 150: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the Permanent Defence Forces serving with EURFOR in Chad. [3522/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 113, 115, 141 and 150 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. A total of 425 Defence Forces personnel are currently serving with EUFOR (18 at the Operational HQ in Paris and 407 in Chad).

Ireland is the second largest contributor to the mission. The aim of the mission is to protect civilians in danger, particularly refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid, and protect UN personnel. The nature of the Irish Battalion duties includes, inter alia, short and long range patrolling, situational awareness and providing an overall security and deterrent presence within its area of operations.

The EUFOR TCHAD/RCA Mission has progressed most satisfactorily. Despite the challenges that have faced the mission, a solid foundation has been laid, which will help prepare the way to build future successes and contribute to the long-term beneficial impact of a safe and secure environment. Improvements in security have also contributed to the limited return of IDPs in some specific locations. When the UN follow-on-mission is fully deployed and is able to provide the intended level of security, it is expected that the security situation at local level will improve, particularly from the criminality and banditry perspective.

The estimated cost to the Defence Vote arising from participation in the EUFOR mission for twelve months will amount to approximately €57m. Unlike a UN "Blue Hat" type operation, all the costs of deployment, repatriation, rotation and sustainment, together with strategic and in-theatre tactical lift of the contingent, are met by each of the relevant troop contributing country. The only costs met by contributions from EU Member States are generally the costs of establishing and operating the headquarters facilities.

On 14 January 2009, the Security Council unanimously adopted Security Council Resolution 1861 (2009), authorising the deployment of a military component of the UN Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) to follow on from the EUFOR mission at the end of its mandate, which expires on 15 March 2009.

The Government has already approved, in principle, continued participation by the Irish Defence Forces in MINURCAT with a contingent similar in size and nature to its existing contribution to EUFOR. In that decision, the Government decided that its final approval will depend on the extent to which other current EU Member States will contribute to the follow-on mission. Most importantly, the level of logistics support that will be provided will be a key factor for consideration by Ireland. While not anticipating the future decision of the Government, the recently passed UN Security Council Resolution, the ongoing commitment of other EU member States and our understanding that France plans to continue to provide the necessary logistics support provides a sound basis for reverting to Government for a final substantive decision on the issue. I plan to bring proposals to Government shortly in this regard and, subject to its approval, to seek the approval of Dáil Éireann for Defence Forces participation in the UN follow-on mission. If approved, it is anticipated that the Defence Forces would serve with MINURCAT for an initial period of twelve months beyond 15 March 2009. Participation in the mission beyond March 2010 would be subject to a satisfactory review of the mission and renewal of the mission's mandate by the UN Security Council.

As MINURCAT would be a UN-led operation, the UN will reimburse Ireland in respect of certain troop and equipment costs which are currently being charged to the Defence Vote. The reimbursement will be made mainly in the form of Appropriations-in-Aid to the Exchequer. The estimated amount of UN reimbursement of equipment and other costs cannot be determined at this stage as this dependant on detailed negotiations with the UN on the specific equipment, logistics and other costs required for participation in this mission.