Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 16 December 2016
562. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the way in which his Department proposes to fulfill the large procurement projects such as APCs, aircraft and naval vessels, the needs for which are clearly outlined in the White Paper but for which no specific budgetary provision has yet been made. [40581/16]
View answerMy priority as Minister with Responsibility for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained to the greatest extent possible so as to enable the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service to carry out their roles as assigned by Government. In this regard, Budget 2017 secured a capital spending allocation of €74 million, representing an increase of €7 million on the 2017 Defence allocation contained in the 2016-21 capital investment programme. This allocation will facilitate the investment necessary to ensure that the Defence Forces have the equipment and infrastructure to deliver on all their roles as set out in the White Paper.
The acquisition of new equipment for the Defence Forces remains a clear focus for me, and the White Paper on Defence published in 2015 recognises that there are several new and or enhanced platforms to be procured. Future equipment priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are being considered over the period of the White Paper on Defence as part of the capability development and equipment planning priorities planning process.
As a result of the White Paper, a detailed Capability Development Plan is being developed which is building on the work completed as part of the White Paper process. This Capability Development Plan will dovetail with the work of identifying and agreeing a new Equipment Development Plan and the required funding requirements for upgrade programmes and for new equipment projects that will be implemented for the Defence Forces.
The Army will continue to retain all-arms conventional military capabilities, and the principal aim over the period of the White Paper will be to replace and upgrade, as required, existing capabilities in order to retain a flexible response for a wide range of operational requirements both at home and overseas. There will be a focus on the essential force protection provided by armoured vehicles and the most cost effective option of upgrading or replacing the current fleet will be pursued. A small number of armoured logistical and utility vehicles will be procured for force protection.
The Air Corps will see the Cessna fleet replaced with three larger aircraft suitably equipped for Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance tasks. The aircraft specification is currently being prepared and it is expected that the tender competition will be initiated and advertised on the e-tenders website in the near future. The two CASA 235s Maritime Patrol Aircraft are due for replacement in 2019. The CASAs will be replaced with consideration of their replacement with larger more capable aircraft to enhance maritime surveillance and to provide a greater degree of utility for transport and cargo carrying tasks.
The current Naval Service Ship replacement programme has already seen the replacement of three Naval Service vessels. The White Paper underpins the ongoing replacement of the Naval Service fleet. An agreement was recently reached for the provision of an additional ship for the Naval Service to be built to the same specifications as the three newest vessels. Future Naval Service capabilities are being planned as part of the White Paper project planning process which will determine the Defence Organisation’s maritime capability requirements.
Overall, the Defence capital envelope for the period 2017-2021 allocated under the Capital Spending Plan is €392m. The capital funding allocated will play a vital role in ensuring that the priorities identified in the White Paper can be met. The duration of this capital funding plan is particularly significant in allowing for strategic medium-term planning so critical in the Defence environment which will allow for significant investments in equipment over the coming years
