Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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519. To ask the Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel currently stationed overseas; the number stationed in each of the various countries and the nature of the work or missions in which personnel are involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40453/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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As of 30 September 2013, Ireland is contributing approximately 564 Defence Forces personnel to 14 different missions throughout the world. Full details of all personnel currently serving overseas are listed in the tabular statement attached. The main overseas missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 359 personnel, including the Deputy Force Commander. The joint Irish/Finnish Battalion is tasked primarily with patrolling, reconnaissance and occupying static posts while operating in close coordination and cooperation with the Lebanese Armed Forces in Sector West of UNIFIL’s area of operations.

Other missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the EU Training Mission (EUTM) Somalia with eight (8) personnel, including the Mission Commander; the EU Training Mission in Mali (EUTM Mali) with eight (8) personnel; the EUFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina with seven (7) personnel who are based at mission headquarters in Sarajevo; the NATO-led international security presence (KFOR) in Kosovo with twelve (12) personnel based in the mission Headquarters; and the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan with seven (7) personnel who are based in the mission Headquarters in Kabul. Ireland also contributes 24 observers and staff to various United Nations and OSCE missions and 16 other personnel to staff appointments at UN, EU and OSCE headquarters.

The most recent deployment overseas was in response to a United Nations request and resulted in the deployment of the 43rd Infantry Group, comprising 115 personnel, to United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) on the Golan Heights in Syria. This deployment was successfully completed on 28 September 2013. The group is tasked primarily to serve as the Force Mobile Reserve within the UNDOF Area of Responsibility. Four (4) members of the Permanent Defence Force were deployed to UNDOF earlier this year for service at the Mission Headquarters.

Also, at the request of the United Nations and following Government approval, four (4) members of the Permanent Defence Force deployed for service with the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in South Sudan. Their role is to provide a specialist training team on Conventional Munitions Disposal (CMD), mine and specialist search awareness to South Sudan Police personnel.

The current contribution of some 564 personnel to overseas missions reflects the Government’s continued commitment to our responsibilities in the area of international peace and security.

Members of the Permanent Defence Force Serving Overseas as of 30th September 2013