Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 296: To ask the Minister for Defence if there are more joint training exercises planned and the cost in the context of the Defence Forces allocation to participate in the Nordic Battlegroup in 2011. [19355/10]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The Nordic Battlegroup 2011 has not undertaken any joint training exercises to date. The Nordic Battlegroup 2011 will be on standby for 6 months commencing on the 1st January 2011 and it is the intention that the Defence Forces will participate in two (2) joint training exercises in advance of the standby period. The first exercise, entitled 'Initial Effort', will take place during the period 18-31 October 2010 while the second exercise, entitled 'Joint Action', will take place during the period 08-21 November 2010.

These joint training exercises will both take place in Sweden and the projected total cost for the involvement of Irish Defence Forces personnel has been estimated at approximately €800,000.