Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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23. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will report on the levels of capital funding for defence planned over the next two years. [22033/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Last March, Minister Donohoe published revised multi-annual capital spending allocations across Departments out to 2026. This increased funding will facilitate the progression of key capital projects and programmes under the 2021-30 National Development Plan (NDP). For Defence, this will see the capital allocation rise from its 2024 level of €176 million to €215 million in 2025 and €220 million in 2026.

I welcome these significant capital funding increases, which will bring the Defence allocation to its highest ever level.

Capital investment in Defence is primarily directed at providing sufficient military capabilities, across land, air, maritime and cyber domains, to meet specific roles assigned to the Defence Forces. In the main, this investment provides for the acquisition of defensive equipment and the construction or upgrade of barracks infrastructure. The increased funding now available will ensure that the Defence Forces continue to undertake the roles assigned by Government, while also enabling the transformation of the Defence Forces in line with the objectives and timeframes set out in the Detailed Implementation Plan for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces.

Ongoing and future capital investment in Defence Forces equipment and infrastructural requirements are planned and prioritised through the Defence Equipment Development Plan and the Defence Infrastructural Development Plan, with a significant number of programmes/projects in progress at any one time.

The overall capital funding allocation of €435 million provided to Defence for 2025 and 2026, aligned with these internal planning frameworks, will further enable progress on a range of critical force protection acquisitions, including, but not limited, to Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Equipment, individual Soldiers’ Systems such as Helmets and Body Armour, Chemical, Biological, Radiological & Nuclear (CBRN) Equipment, Night Vision Equipment and Active Hearing Protection.

It will also facilitate further scheduled progression of a range of major Defence equipment projects, as noted by the Commission Report, relating to the development of Military Radar Systems and Sub-Sea Awareness Capabilities, Naval Fleet Management and Replacement, the acquisition of armoured vehicles, the procurement of a next generation Software Defined Radio System and the purchase of new fixed and rotary wing aircraft, including a Military Transport Aircraft and a Government Jet.

In addition, the increased allocations will ensure continued accelerated progress on a significant number of Defence Forces Infrastructural projects over the coming years at various Army, Air Corps and Naval locations, including, but not limited to, the following major projects:

• An upgrade of Accommodation and New Office Facilities in the Naval Base, Haulbowline;
• The development of a new purpose built Casement Military Medical Facility;
• An upgrade and refurbishment of Office Accommodation and other buildings of historical importance at McKee Barracks;
• The development of new CIS Workshop Facility, Defence Forces Training Centre;
• The development of a new Army Ranger Wing (ARW) HQ Building;
• Ongoing upgrades to various accommodation, storage, training and gym facilities in military locations throughout the country.