Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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38. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will provide specific timescales for the establishment of the new institute for peace support and leadership training at the Defence Forces training centre in the Curragh; his plans to showcase the shape and proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27090/16]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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As I stated in my response to your PQ no.16864 which I answered on the 21st June 2016, the Programme for a Partnership Government includes a commitment to develop a new Institute for Peace Support and Leadership Training at the Defence Forces Training Centre in the Curragh. This commitment was also reflected in the White Paper on Defence, published in August 2015, which sets out the policy framework for the Defence Organisation for the next ten years and beyond. It is foreseen that the new Institute will have international standing and contribute to the overall development of knowledge and experience in the areas of peace support, leadership and conflict resolution. Since my reply to the Deputy’s question work continues with a view to establishing an interdisciplinary Institute Development Task Force to progress the concept and develop an implementation plan. It is envisaged that the Task Force will comprise representatives from several Government Departments, the Defence Forces, the Third Level sector and the private sector.

It should be noted that part of the work of the Task Force will be to develop specific timescales for the establishment and roll out of the proposal but I would hope to be in a position to showcase its initial shape next year.