Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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Question 403: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will provide a breakdown of the various courses, visits and competitions attended by members of the Defence Forces which led to costs of €1.3 million that occurred in 2010, including the name, location and date of each occasion in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29611/11]

Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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Question 404: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel currently attending third level courses which are being fully or partly paid by his Department; if he will provide a breakdown of the courses being attended by personnel, including the name and duration of course, the name of the institution and the annual cost incurred by his Department by course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29614/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 403 and 404 together.

Training and Education are vital activities in all Military organisations. Training enables Defence Forces personnel to achieve their required standard of operational effectiveness. Over the past decade the Defence Forces have undertaken more challenging roles, in particular on overseas service and have also introduced new highly technical equipment. External Education both at Universities and Institutes at home and abroad, fulfils Defence Forces requirements by providing education and expertise, which cannot be delivered within the organisation and which ensures that Defence Force personnel attain the required level of academic and professional qualifications.

Training and Education is under constant review within the Defence Forces. This is to ensure that the Defence Forces provide an effective highly trained force capable of fulfilling all roles assigned by Government, while also utilising the most efficient and economic use of resources.

It was not possible to provide the detailed information sought by the Deputy in the time available. My Department is currently seeking to compile the relevant data and I will provide the information directly to the Deputy once it comes to hand.