Gary Gannon
Question:186. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel deployed on overseas missions since 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38710/21]
View answerWednesday, 14 July 2021
Questions (186)
Written answers
As of 1 July 2021, Ireland is contributing 579 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 351 personnel and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 137 personnel.
The Defence Forces have a long and distinguished history of overseas service. Since 1958, the Defence Forces have maintained a worldwide continuous overseas presence on peace support operations numbering in excess of 71,000 individual tours of duty.
From January 2000 to December 2020, in excess of 28,000 individual tours of duty have been conducted by members of the Defence Forces.