Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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292. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the up-to-date figures for the strength of the Permanent Defence Forces by each of the three services, rank and gender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34379/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The attached table details the strength of the Permanent Defence Force across the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps as at 31st May 2021 (the latest date for which such data is available); the breakdown of all ranks across the three services; and the gender breakdown of same.

Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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293. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of overseas missions in which the Defence Forces are involved; and the number of personnel involved in each mission. [34380/21]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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309. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent of proposed deployment of Irish troops overseas on UN or other missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34967/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 293 and 309 together.

As of 8 June 2021, Ireland is contributing 564 personnel to 10 different missions throughout the world. The main overseas missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 337 personnel and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 136 personnel.

The UNIFIL mission in Lebanon continues to represent Ireland's largest overseas deployment and on 4 May 2021 the Government approved the continued participation of the Defence Forces in UNIFIL for a further 12 month period.Irish troops are currently serving as part of a joint Irish-Polish Battalion in UNIFIL.

In relation to UNDOF, Defence Forces personnel are currently based in Camp Faouar on the Syrian side of the area of separation.On 9 June 2021, the Government approved the continued participation of the Defence Forces in UNDOF for a 12 month period up to June 2022.

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.

Ireland has always been a strong supporter of the United Nations and UN Peacekeeping. Our commitment and support for the primary role of the United Nations, in the maintenance of international peace and security, is expressed in Ireland's long-standing tradition of participating in UN peacekeeping operations. This commitment is also expressed in our engagement in the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).

Full details of all personnel currently serving overseas and their locations are shown in the tabular statement beneath.

Members of the Permanent Defence Force Serving Overseas As of 08 June 2021

1.UN MISSIONS

(i)UNIFIL(United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) HQ 9

UNIFIL118^thInfantry Battalion 324

UNIFILSector West HQ 4

(ii)UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation) Israel & Syria 12

(iii)MINURSO(UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara) 2

(iv) MONUSCO(UN Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic 3

Republic of the Congo)

(v)UNDOF (COS Staff/FHQ Staff – Camp Faouar – Bravo side) 8

UNDOF63^rdInfantry Group (Camp Faouar – Bravo side) 128

(vi) MINUSMA(Irish Defence Forces Task Unit) Mali 14

TOTAL 504

UN MANDATED MISSIONS

(vii)EUFOR(EU-led Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina)

(viii)EUTM Mali(EU-Led Training Mission) 20

(ix)KFOR(International Security Presence in Kosovo ) HQ 13

(x) Naval Service EU Naval Mission (Op Irini) HQ 3

TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING WITH UN MISSIONS 545

2. ORGANISATION FOR SECURITY AND CO-OPERATION IN EUROPE (OSCE)

Staff Officer, High Level Planning Group, Vienna 1

3. EU MILITARY STAFF – (Brussels) 6

4. MILITARY REPRESENTATIVES/ADVISERS/STAFF

(i) Military Adviser, Permanent Mission to UN, New York 2

(ii) Military Adviser, Irish Delegation to OSCE, Vienna 1

(iii) Military Representative to EU (Brussels) 4

(iv) Liaison Officer of Ireland, NATO /PfP (Brussels) 3

(v) EU OHQ Operation Althea, Mons, Belgium 1

(vi) Irish Liaison Officer to SHAPE & Military Co-Op Division, Mons, Belgium 1

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEFENCE FORCES PERSONNEL SERVING OVERSEAS 564