Wednesday, 11 Dec 2013

Written Answers Nos. 137-141

Defence Forces Strength

Questions (137)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

137. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the total strength of the Defence Forces including reserves, male and female; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53320/13]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

The strength of the Permanent Defence Force at the end of October 2013, the latest date for which figures are available stood at 9,222, of which 558, or 6.06%, are women. With regard to the Army Reserve, the total strength at 30 November 2012, the latest date for which figures are available was 4,773. This figure comprises 3,782 men and 991 women. I am advised that following completion of the recent re-organisation of the Reserve Defence Force a more up to date strength figure for the Army Reserve is not available at the moment. I will provide this information directly to the Deputy once it comes to hand.

Defence Forces Deployment

Questions (138)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

138. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the number of Irish troops currently deployed overseas; the extent to which further deployments are pending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53321/13]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

As of 01 December 2013, Ireland is contributing approximately 416 Defence Forces personnel to 14 different missions throughout the world. Full details of all personnel currently serving overseas are listed in the tabular statement attached. The main overseas missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 210 personnel, including the Deputy Force Commander. Members of the 42nd Infantry Group who are serving as part of the joint Finnish/Irish Battalion, are tasked primarily with patrolling, reconnaissance and occupying static posts while operating in close coordination and cooperation with the Lebanese Armed Forces in Sector West of UNIFIL’s area of operations.

Other missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) with 119 Defence Forces personnel, including four (4) personnel at the Mission Headquarters, the EU Training Mission (EUTM) Somalia with eight (8) personnel, including the Mission Commander; the EU Training Mission in Mali (EUTM Mali) with eight (8) personnel; the EUFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina with seven (7) personnel who are based at mission headquarters in Sarajevo; the NATO-led international security presence (KFOR) in Kosovo with twelve (12) personnel based in the mission Headquarters; and the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan with seven (7) personnel who are based in the mission Headquarters in Kabul and four (4) personnel deployed for service with the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in South Sudan. Ireland also contributes 25 observers and staff to various United Nations and OSCE missions and 16 other personnel to staff appointments at UN, EU and OSCE headquarters.

Apart from the recent deployment to UNDOF, no other deployments are envisaged at this time. The current contribution of some 416 personnel to overseas missions reflects the Government’s continued commitment to our responsibilities in the area of international peace and security.

MEMBERS OF THE PERMANENT DEFENCE FORCE SERVING OVERSEAS AS OF 01 DECEMBER 2013

1.	UN MISSIONS	-
-	UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) HQ	16
-	UNIFIL 43rd Infantry Group	186
-	UNIFIL Sector West HQ	8
-	UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation ) Israel & Syria	13
-	MINURSO (United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara)	3
-	MONUSCO (United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo)	4
-	UNOCI (United Nations Mission in Ivory Coast)	2
-	UNDOF (United Nations Disengagement Observer Force) Golan Heights Syria	119
-	UNMAS (United Nations Mine Action Service ) South Sudan	4
-	TOTAL	355
-	EUFOR (EU led Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina)	7
-	EUTM Somalia (EU led Training Mission)	8
-	EUTM Mali (EU led Training Mission)	8
-	KFOR (International Security Presence in Kosovo) HQ	12
-	ISAF (International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan)	7
-	TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING WITH UN MISSIONS	397
2.	ORGANISATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE (OSCE)	-
-	OSCE Mission to Bosnia & Herzegovina	2
-	OSCE Mission in Belgrade – Serbia	1
-	Staff Officer, High Level Planning Group Vienna	1
-	TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING OSCE	4
3.	EU MILITARY STAFF	-
-	Brussels	5
4.	MILITARY REPRESENTATIVES/ADVISERS/STAFF	-
-	Military Adviser, Permanent Mission to UN, New York	1
-	Military Adviser Irish delegation to OSCE, Vienna	1
-	Military Representative to EU (Brussels)	3
-	Liaison Office of Ireland, NATO/PfP (Brussels)	2
-	EU OHQ Operation Althea, Mons, Belgium	1
-	Irish Liaison Officer to SHAPE & Military Co-Op Division, Mons, Belgium	1
-	European Defence Agency (EDA) Brussels	1
-	TOTAL NUMBER OF DEFENCE FORCES PERSONNEL SERVING OVERSEAS	416

Defence Forces Representative Organisations

Questions (139)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

139. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which he has ongoing dialogue with the various representative bodies, such as PDFORRA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53322/13]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

The Question is a repeat in view of Question 127 of 6 November 2013 (Reference number 47390/13) and the written reply to that question. The position is unchanged with the exception of one minor update where I can advise that I regret that I was unable to attend the RACO Biennial Delegate Conference last week, despite my been originally scheduled to do so.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (140)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

140. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence if he expects expenditure in his Department in the coming year to remain within budgetary guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53323/13]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

It is expected that expenditure in 2014 for the Defence Vote Group will remain within budgetary guidelines. My Department monitors expenditure trends closely, on an ongoing basis, to ensure that budgetary targets are achieved.

Question No. 141 answered with Question No. 132.