Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Defence when Irish troops will be sent to Mali; and the role they will preform. [8852/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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On 26 February 2013, the Government approved the deployment of approximately eight (8) members of the Permanent Defence Force to the EU Training Mission in Mali (EUTM Mali), which has been authorised by the United Nations under UN Security Council Resolution 2071 (2012), to provide military training to the Malian Armed Forces.

The Irish personnel to be deployed to EUTM Mali have completed their pre-deployment training. The exact date of the Irish deployment to Mali is yet to be confirmed. However, we expect this date to be confirmed by the European Union on 15 March 2013. It is expected that Irish personnel will deploy into the mission area circa 23 March 2013.

The Irish contribution to the mission will comprise three (3) officers and five (5) Non commissioned officers. One (1) Staff Officer will deploy to the Mission Headquarters in Bamako and another to the training camp Headquarters in Koulikoro. The remaining six (6) personnel who constitute the Defence Forces training team will also deploy to the training camp in Koulikoro and will form part of a joint infantry training team with the United Kingdom armed forces.