Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 November 2023
162. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel of each rank who have signed up to participate in the EU Battlegroup; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51694/23]
View answerIn January of this year, the Government approved the participation by the Defence Forces in the German-led EU Battlegroup in 2024/2025. This will be the eighth occasion on which the Defence Forces have been part of an EU Battlegroup and the first since 2020. The Battlegroup will be stood-up during 2024 and will be on standby throughout 2025. It is currently foreseen that the total number of the proposed Defence Forces contribution to the Battlegroup will be approximately 182 personnel. This will be comprised of a Mechanised Infantry Company (with a Company HQ, Infantry platoons and a weapons platoon consisting of 138 personnel) together with a National Support Element (consisting of 34 persons providing the necessary transport, medical, CIS, maintenance and ordnance support) and staff posts of 10 personnel to the Force Headquarters. The Operational Headquarters will be located in Ulm, Germany, while the Force Headquarters will be based in Strasbourg, France.As of now, all of the staff posts in the Force Headquarters have been filled. With regard to the remaining approximately 172 posts, the Defence Forces are currently finalising the terms and conditions that will apply to those personnel participating in the EUBG. The most recent information available to me is that there thirty-five personnel have volunteered to participate in the Mechanised Infantry Company/National Support Element. This is an increase of ten on the numbers last week and I expect to see that number continuing to rise.The Defence Forces’ contingent will be stood-up on a phased basis through the first months of 2024, beginning with a relatively modest number from 1 January. It is anticipated that, as the terms and conditions relating to those participating in the Battlegroup are finalised in the coming weeks, there will be an appreciable increase in the numbers volunteering to participate.
