Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 March 2012
6Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Defence the plans he has to procure or update military hardware in the Defence Forces over the next year; the specific items involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14184/12]
View answerGiven the current economic situation, the acquisition of defensive equipment is carried out on a strictly prioritised basis to ensure that the Defence Forces can carry out their roles at home and overseas. In this regard, a ten year equipment development plan for the Defence Forces was completed in 2009. This plan provides the way forward and will ensure that modern and effective equipment is available for both domestic and overseas operations, such as, for example, the UNIFIL deployment in Lebanon.
Investment in new equipment and upgrading of existing equipment for the Defence Forces is provided for under various subheads of the Defence Vote relating to defensive equipment, transport, aircraft, Naval Service ships and stores and communications and information technology equipment. The provision allocated in 2012 for the purchase of defensive equipment is €27.5 million. This allows for the acquisition of a range of priority defensive equipment such as force protection equipment and chemical detection equipment and the implementation of a rifle enhancement programme. It also allows for the acquisition of ammunition types needed to maintain stocks given the training and overseas requirements throughout the year.
The Minister is right to acknowledge that the past decade has seen a significant investment in the military hardware used by the Defence Forces. We have also seen the use of the proceeds of the barracks consolidation programme pursued by the previous Government in the aftermath of the Northern Ireland peace programme. They have been used to update the obsolete military hardware of the Defence Forces.
Different challenges on overseas missions demand specific investment and equipment and along with the ongoing needs of the Naval Service, further investment may be required into the future. The Minister of State has acknowledged today that some €27.5 million will be spent in 2012. Will the Government use the proceeds from sales following barrack closures in Mullingar, Clonmel and Cavan to fund hardware investment or will they be returned to the Exchequer? I was totally against the closure of these barracks because I do not believe their closure represents value for money for the State. Also, they are a significant loss for their local towns. I do not believe they will be sold, because the market is dead. How does the Minister intend to fund future investment in hardware?
As I said in response to an earlier question, over €87 million has been spent already from moneys received from the sale of barracks closed and sold under the Fianna Fáil Administration. That money was ring-fenced and any moneys received from future sales of barracks will continue to be ring-fenced to the Defence Forces Vote. With regard to how the money will be spent this year, some €2 million will be spent on purchasing force protection equipment to further enhance capability to protect personnel, some €3 million has been allocated for an upgrade and modification of 6,000 current in-service rifles. The commencement of the rifle enhancement programme is a priority and it will run for from two to three years. Some €16 million has been allocated this year for the continued acquisition of various categories of ammunition needed to maintain stocks, given the training and overseas requirements. For operational and security reasons, it is not appropriate to specify in any further detail what it is intended to purchase in the coming months. However, some €14.5 million has been allocated in 2012 for payment to the Naval Service and to Babcock Marine under the contract for the provision of two new ships for the service. The first ship is scheduled for delivery in 2014 and the second a year later.
I am aware of and acknowledge the funding that was used from the previous consolidation. Times were different then and the sales then came about as a result of the Northern Ireland peace process when barracks along the Border were closed. Does the Government intend to sell the barracks in the three locations mentioned? If there are successful sales and money is generated, will that money be ring-fenced for future development in the Defence Forces?
Absolutely. Perhaps I did not make it sufficiently clear but all money that comes from the sale of barracks will be ring-fenced for the Defence Forces and for the purchase of equipment. With regard to barracks that are supposed to be closed, the Department has been in contact with various statutory agencies around the country and discussions are ongoing on those properties. If other agencies, such as county councils, wished to take over some of these existing properties, that would be considered good use of the properties.
The Minister said there was a ten-year equipment development plan put in place in 2009.
I said a ten-year equipment development plan for the Defence Forces was completed in 2009 to provide a way forward.
Has that plan been reviewed in light of the current economic situation and has it been adjusted to take into account the reduction in the numbers of personnel in the Defence Forces and the consolidation of barracks?
The key point is that the provision in the budget for 2012 is €27.5 million. This takes everything into account and is a significant amount of money to be spent in this area this year.
