Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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295. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the national and international third level and research institutes which have been consulted with regard to the development of a new institute for peace support and leadership training at the Defence Forces Training Centre in the Curragh; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8980/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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As I have indicated previously to you in my response to PQ 27090/16, scoping work was carried out on the proposal for a Peace Support and Leadership Training Institute at the Defence Forces Training Centre in the Curragh throughout 2016 and still continues. In addition to a concept paper being developed some initial consultation with national and international third level and research institutes and potential philanthropic contributors also took place.

I am advised that the overall concept was discussed at a meeting with representatives from a number of national and international academic institutions held in December 2015 including the European Security and Defence College (ESDC), UCD, DCU, UCG, UCC, NUIM, Carlow IT and UL. In 2016 consultation took place with representatives from the Department of Education and Skills.

Further consultation has also taken place with representatives of DCU, UCD, NUIM and the Kennedy Institute at both Ministerial and official level.

Contact has also been initiated with some international institutes including the Center for International Peace Operations in Berlin and the Centre for Security Studies in Zurich. Ongoing additional consultation is required to further explore the feasibility of the concept and this is expected to continue in 2017.