Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 492: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of personnel in the Defence Forces currently serving overseas; and the number by location. [15496/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Ireland is currently contributing 218 Defence Forces personnel to 11 different missions throughout the world. Full details of all personnel currently serving overseas are listed in the tabular statement below.

The main overseas missions, in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed, are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), the EU-led operation ALTHEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the NATO-led International Security presence (KFOR) in Kosovo. Other personnel are serving as monitors and observers with the United Nations and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Staff are also deployed at the organisational headquarters of the EU, OSCE and NATO.

With regard to the deployment to UNIFIL, an advance party of 47 personnel of the 104th Infantry Battalion, together with a work party of 42 personnel, deployed to southern Lebanon on 30 May 2011. The main body of the Battalion is scheduled to deploy to UNIFIL at the end of this month when the work party will return. In July 2011, Ireland's contribution to Operation ALTHEA will reduce from 44 personnel to 7 personnel.

When the UNIFIL contingent is fully deployed and the reduction in Ireland's contribution to Operation ALTHEA takes effect, the total number of personnel deployed overseas will amount to approximately 540. This represents a significant contribution to international peacekeeping operations and the obligations Ireland has assumed through its membership of the UN.