Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 342: To ask the Minister for Defence the budgetary cost of continuing Ireland's involvement in MINURCAT in Chad for the 2010 budgetary year; the costs involved in the termination of the mission as per the scheduled date; if he has published figures to date, included the costs of either; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45351/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Following on from Ireland's participation in the EU-led mission to Chad, the mandate of which expired on 14 March 2009, Ireland's initial commitment to the follow-on United Nations Mission in the Republic of Chad and the Central African Republic (MINURCAT) is for a period of 1 year to 14 March 2010.

The additional annual costs to the Defence Vote arising from participation in the MINURCAT mission in Chad amounts to some €16.2m. The UN reimburses some of the costs of participation through a daily payment in respect of troops and wet lease payments in respect of agreed equipment. Reimbursement by the UN for troop and equipment costs for the MINURCAT mission is estimated at €8.6m for a twelve month period. As such, net of UN reimbursements, the annual additional cost to the Defence Vote of participation in MINURCAT is €7.6m approx (net of UN).

Should the Government decide to withdraw from Chad upon the expiration of Ireland's initial commitment to MINURCAT mission on 14 March 2010, the costs of repatriation of troops and equipment from the now UN-led mission would be met by the UN. Withdrawal from MINURCAT would result in a net saving to the Defence Vote of approximately €8.0m per annum.