Willie Penrose
Ceist:58 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Defence the sum of money owed to the State by the UN for duties carried out by the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22983/98]
Written Answers. - Overseas Missions.
Denis Naughten
Ceist:86 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Defence if the Government is paid an allowance for supplying troops on UN service; if so, the way in which this is calculated; the amount of income received between 1 January and 31 December 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22948/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 86 together.
The total amount currently due to my Department by the United Nations in respect of Defence Force personnel serving overseas is approximately £9 million. The amount of arrears due at October last year was £10.6 million. The amount paid to the State in 1997 in respect of contributions towards troop and other costs associated with the participation of Irish Defence Force personnel in UN missions was £8.2 million. The comparative figure for 1996 was £7.3 million. Troop costs included in the above figures are calculated at the rate of US$1087.10 per person per month. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the United Nations Interim Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) are the only missions for which Ireland is entitled to reimbursement of troop costs.