Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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686. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the current level of deployment and location of Irish troops overseas on UN or EU related missions; the extent to which further missions are planned or required; the extent to which the need for any upgrading of equipment has been noted arising from such deployment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40145/16]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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As of 1 December 2016, Ireland is contributing 661 Defence Forces personnel to 11 different missions throughout the world, along with deployments to two standby Battlegroup Headquarters and a range of international organisations and National Representations.

The main overseas mission in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed is the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 379 personnel. Since 22 November 2016, when Ireland assumed the lead of the joint Battalion in UNIFIL from Finland, Ireland's contribution to UNIFIL was increased by some 150 personnel. Ireland is also contributing 136 personnel to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria.

Full details of all personnel currently serving overseas are shown in the following tabular statement.

With regard to the deployment of Naval Service vessels to the Mediterranean mission, L.É. Samuel Beckett, with a crew of 57, has recently completed her mission in the Mediterranean and is scheduled to return to the Naval Base, Haulbowline on Friday next, 16 December. To date, Irish participation in the humanitarian mission has resulted in the rescue of over 15,600 migrants, which clearly demonstrates the value of Ireland’s involvement in this important humanitarian response. The question of further deployment to the Mediterranean in 2017 will be considered in due course.

The Department of Defence constantly reviews the deployment of Defence Forces personnel overseas. With regard to any future deployments of Defence Forces personnel overseas, Ireland receives requests, from time to time, in relation to participation in various missions and these are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Defence Forces personnel serving on all overseas missions are equipped with the most modern and effective equipment to carry out their mission. The Defence Forces equipment is upgraded on a continual basis. This equipment enables troops to fulfill the roles assigned to them, as well as providing the required protection specific to the mission.