Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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1721. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason the small Army contingent currently serving in Mali, Africa are not afforded any kind of stipend towards phonecall credit to be used to contact families at home while away on duty (details supplied); and his views on whether it is unacceptable that those serving in Mali who are living in isolated locations without access to Internet and Skype should have to rely on family members to call their partners and fathers at their own expense which is high in cost at international call charges. [41234/16]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Military Authorities that deployed personnel are provided with voice communications at a rate of five minutes per month. This is increased to ten minutes per month if designated a hardship mission. This is generally provided by means of a 30 to 60 minute call card. Troops deployed in Mali were in receipt of voice and Internet services under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with deployed UK forces. On the cessation of the joint deployment arrangements with the UK, this facility was lost. The Defence Forces Director of Communications authorised the purchase of a local call card to provide each of the deployed personnel with a 60 minute voice allocation.

On 29 November 2016, the Defence Forces authorised the additional purchase of an Internet solution due to the hardship nature of the mission. This solution has been identified and purchased locally for immediate availability to mission personnel.