Volunteers are being sought to work alongside Irish and international agencies providing humanitarian assistance in some of the most troubled parts of the world.
People experienced in logistics, engineering, health, education and information technology will be required to be available at 72 hours notice and willing to work abroad for at least three months in the State's Rapid Response Corps.
The Corps, which is run by the Irish Aid division of the Department of Foreign Affairs, sought 50 volunteers when it was created last year. Some 64 suitable candidates signed up and the Government hopes to bring this number to 89 by the end of the year.
Volunteers could be sent anywhere in the world where there is a humanitarian crisis and have already been deployed in Kenya, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Nepal, Mozambique and Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
"In line with commitments contained in the Programme for Government, the aim of the current recruitment campaign is to further expand the Corps. We would hope during the year to increase by 50 per cent the numbers of Corps members who are ready to deploy," Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern said.
The recruitment drive has been publicised through advertisements in the main national newspapers.
Those interested can apply at www.irishaid.gov.ie/rapid_response_initiative.asp.