Defence Force regulations provide for the payment of subsistence allowance to military personnel in respect of those occasions where they perform duties away from their stations and are not provided with meals. This does not arise frequently, however, as there is a comprehensive catering system in place in the Defence Forces, in which there has been heavy investment, to cope with feeding troops in the field. Claims for subsistence allowance must be certified by the officer commanding the claimant's unit. Separate records are not maintained by my Department in respect of subsistence allowance payable for BSE-related operations and, regrettably therefore, the precise details sought by the Deputy are not available.