31 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans to increase the numbers of those in the Rapid Response Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20875/10]

The Rapid Response Corps was established in 2007 to provide a body of highly skilled volunteers who could deploy at short notice to Irish Aid's humanitarian partner organisations.

The Department of Foreign Affairs recently held a recruitment drive to increase the number of volunteers within the Corps. As a result 25 new members have been recruited, bringing to 155 the total number of Rapid Response Corps volunteers available to deploy to humanitarian emergencies overseas. The new recruits will participate in induction training later this month, including at the Defence Force's UN Training School in the Curragh.

Rapid Response Corps volunteers typically have a highly-specialised expertise in areas such as logistics, telecommunications or engineering. They deploy at the request of Irish Aid, acting on its own behalf or on behalf of its humanitarian partners. Since the Corps was established, 77 volunteers have deployed to over 20 countries, including at present to Afghanistan, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Iraq, Kenya, Somalia and Sudan.