Irish Defence Forces Irish Defence Forces

THE NUMBER OF bomb squad callouts in 2015 has remained almost unchanged compared to last year.

The Defence Forces has released its stats for army operations over the past year, revealing the explosive ordnance disposal team were called out 145 times.

This is slightly more than last year, with 141 callouts, and far less than 250 in 2013.

Last year 53 viable devices were found during callouts, although a figure for the breakdown this year is not yet available.

Bomb disposal comes under the army’s remit for providing aid to civil powers. Other examples from this year include:

• 130 prisoner escorts
• 11 explosives escorts
• 260 personnel were involved in the security operation for the royal visit in May.

Irish Defence Forces Irish Defence Forces

Across the world there are currently 424 military personnel serving in fifteen different countries. The two largest deployments are UNIFIL in Lebanon (198 troops) and UNDOF in the Golan Heights (139 troops).

Back home, the largest deployment by far was to tackle flooding earlier this month. A total of 1,000 members of the Defence Forces, along with 160 vehicles, four aircraft, and two boats were brought in.

Another large-scale deployment is likely in the coming days, with more flooding expected as Storm Frank hits the country.

Irish Defence Forces Irish Defence Forces

Other deployments at home included:

• 150 personnel in the search for a missing person in Thomastown, Co Kilkenny
• 3 personnel to assist local divers in search for missing persons off Baltimore, Co Cork.
• 171 personnel in search for a missing person in Dundalk area.

In September the Defence Forces conducted its first Transfer of Appointment ceremony to mark the handover from the Chief of Staff outgoing, Lt Gen Conor O’Boyle to the incoming Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Mark Mellett.

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