Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 March 2020
25. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of members of the Defence Forces that served overseas on missions during 2019; the number currently serving overseas; the locations in which they are serving; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3722/20]
View answerThe number of members of the Defence Forces that served overseas on missions during 2019 was 1,788.
As of 3rd March 2020, Ireland is contributing 589 Defence Forces personnel to 10 different missions throughout the world and also to a range of international organisations and National representations.
The main overseas missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 354 personnel and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 138 personnel.
Details of all personnel currently serving overseas are listed below.
Members of the Permanent Defence Force Serving Overseas
As of 3rd March 2020
|
UN MISSIONS |
|
|
UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) HQ |
9 |
|
UNIFIL 115th Infantry Battalion |
337 |
|
UNIFIL Sector West |
8 |
|
UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation) Israel & Syria |
11 |
|
MINURSO (United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara) |
2 |
|
MONUSCO (United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) |
3 |
|
UNDOF (COS Staff/FHQ Staff - Camp Faouar - Bravo side) |
9 |
|
UNDOF 60th Infantry Group (Camp Faouar - Bravo side) |
129 |
|
MINUSMA (Irish Defence Forces Task Unit) Mali |
13 |
|
Total |
521 |
|
UN MANDATED MISSIONS |
|
|
EUFOR (EU-led Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina) |
5 |
|
EUTM Mali (EU-Led Training Mission) |
20 |
|
KFOR (International Security Presence in Kosovo) HQ |
13 |
|
Naval Service EU Naval Mission (Op Sophia) OHQ |
3 |
|
TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING WITH UN MISSIONS |
562 |
|
ORGANISATION FOR SECURITY AND CO-OPERATION IN EUROPE (OSCE) |
|
|
Staff Officer, High Level Planning Group, Vienna |
1 |
|
EU MILITARY STAFF |
|
|
Brussels |
6 |
|
EU BATTLE GROUP |
|
|
German Led Battle Group 202-2, FHQ, Stadtallendorf |
10 |
|
MILITARY REPRESENTAIVES/ADVISERS/STAFF |
|
|
Military Adviser, Permanent Mission to UN, New York |
1 |
|
Military Adviser, Irish Delegation to OSCE, Vienna |
1 |
|
Military Representative to EU (Brussels) |
4 |
|
Liaison Officer of Ireland, NATO / PfP (Brussels) |
3 |
|
EU OHQ Operation Althea, Mons, Belgium |
1 |
|
TOTAL NUMBER OF DEFENCE FORCES PERSONNEL SERVING OVERSEAS |
589 |
