Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 April 2023
48. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the expected timeline for a replacement of the Air Corps Pilatus PC-9M aircraft; and if consideration is being given to more capable jet aircraft for air policing missions. [19819/23]
View answer49. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the expected timeline for the implementation of the Commission on the Defence Forces recommendation to acquire transport aircraft for the Air Corps. [19820/23]
View answer50. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence when he expects the Commission on the Defence Forces recommendation to acquire two additional medium-lift rotary wing aircraft will be completed. [19821/23]
View answer51. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on when he anticipates hisDepartment to tender for a primary radar system. [19822/23]
View answer52. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if the purchase of two inshore patrol vessels from New Zealand are replacing his Department's plans to acquire vessels with countermine and counter-IED capabilities. [19823/23]
View answer53. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the estimated timeline for delivery of a new multi-role vessel. [19824/23]
View answer54. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if the multi-beam sonar echo sounder installed on the P60 patrol vessels is sufficient to monitor submarines operating near underwater cables in the Atlantic. [19825/23]
View answer56. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the estimated timeline to replace the existing ground-based air defence radar. [19827/23]
View answer57. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if there are plans to replace the existing RBS-70 anti-air defence system with a more capable system. [19828/23]
View answer58. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the status of the planned replacement of the 84mm anti-tank support weapon. [19829/23]
View answer59. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his plans to replace the Army's existing DPM uniform. [19830/23]
View answer60. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if there are plans to increase the number of light tactical armoured vehicles in service, known as the RG32m. [19831/23]
View answer61. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his plans to replace the L118 and L119 light guns with a more capable artillery system. [19832/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60 and 61 together.
My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government. Equipment priorities (including replacement capabilities as they near end of life) for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are considered in the context of the established capability development and Equipment Development Planning (EDP) processes. Further additions to the EDP are currently under consideration, including in the context of the Government’s decision to move to a higher level of ambition, known as LOA2, and in light of specific recommendations, associated with a move to LOA2, made in the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces last year.
Furthermore, the proposed timeframes for implementation of the specific capability development recommendations made by the Commission are currently being reviewed in the context of work ongoing to produce an Implementation Plan, addressing all of the Commission’s recommendations including specific equipment purchases, and this Implementation Plan will be published once it has been finalised.
There is a significant body of work currently underway to ensure that the Defence Forces have the required capabilities with equipment projects in various stages of the project lifecycle. With regard to radar capabilities, a project team, comprising senior civil and military personnel, has commenced work on planning for the complex military radar capabilities programme, including ground based, maritime and primary radar systems. This is one of the early actions identified in a High Level Action Plan published last year in response to the Commission’s report. Delivery has been prioritised by Government and this year’s increased capital allocation for Defence includes funding to explore the development of this capability. Work carried out to date includes identification of requirements and research into various delivery options, as well as consideration of approaches internationally. This has included a visit to another Member State.
Work on capital investment in aircraft continues with the recent placing of a contract with Airbus at a cost of €68 million, including VAT, for a military transport aircraft for Defence Forces. The Airbus C295W aircraft is highly versatile and will provide a dedicated asset to support the Defence Forces military airlift transport requirements and provide a wide contingent capability. The aircraft will enable the Air Corps to provide a wide range of services including logistics support and transport of troops and equipment, medical evacuation and air ambulance, Special Operations Forces operations and a general utility role. Delivery of this aircraft is expected in 2025.
The programme for the supply of two C295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft is nearing completion with delivery of the aircraft expected in 2023. Projects for other Air Corps capabilities will be considered in the context of overall capability development and available funding in accordance with the planning processes.
Marine advisors have been appointed by my Department to support the procurement of a Multi-Role Vessel (MRV) to replace the now decommissioned former flagship LÉ Eithne. This work is underway and will inform a public tender competition in due course. The MRV is an important element of the Defence Equipment Development Plan and is provided for in the Government's National Development Plan as a major capital project. It is the Government’s intention that this new vessel will provide a flexible and adaptive capability for a wide range of maritime tasks.
The two Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPVs), purchased from the New Zealand government last year to replace the now decommissioned LÉ Orla and LÉ Ciara, are currently in transit to Ireland following a year long project to regenerate and modify the vessels. The vessels are expected to arrive in Cork by mid-May and will undergo a comprehensive programme of works including crew familiarisation and training. Projects for other Naval Service capabilities will be considered in the context of overall capability development and available funding in accordance with established planning processes.
Details sought regarding the capabilities of specified Defence Forces’ equipment cannot be disclosed for operational security reasons.
Projects for the Army are being considered in the context of capability development and available funding against the backdrop of the overall Equipment Development Plan process. There has been significant investment in recent years in the armoured fleet of vehicles with the enhancement of force protection and mobility with the mid life refit of the MOWAG Piranaha III vehicles project nearing completion and the delivery of armoured utility vehicles. These projects have seen the integration of cutting edge technology and equipment into the vehicles. Work has commenced on the identification of requirements and on the scoping out the project for the acquisition of Light Tactical Armoured Vehicles for the Army. Technology is an enabler of modern military forces and a Software Defined Radio Project which is the next generation communications system for the Defence Forces is currently in the marketplace. This complex project is being designed and customised to meet the Defence Forces' requirements and to incorporate systems and equipment platforms,, it will support the joint common operational picture.
Meanwhile, the military authorities have advised that plans are well underway for the replacement of the Army's DPM uniform and external consultants have been appointed to support a tender competition.
The Department of Defence has received a capital allocation under the National Development Plan of €566 million over the 2022 to 2025 timeframe. The Defence annual capital budget for 2023 is €176 million. The recent Budget for 2023 included an increase of €67m over the 2022 budget for Defence. This includes an almost 25% increase in Capital funding and demonstrates the Government’s strong commitment to support the transformation of the Defence Forces into a modern, agile military force, capable of responding to increasingly complex security threats.
This is following Government approval for a move over a six-year period to a level of Defence Forces’ capability equivalent to ‘Level of Ambition 2’ (LOA2), as set out in the capability framework devised by the Commission on Defence Forces, which will entail funding increases to reach a Defence budget of approximately €1.5 billion (at January 2022 prices) by 2028 through the annual Estimates.
This level of capital funding will allow the Defence Organisation to undertake a phased planned programme of sustained equipment and infrastructural development across the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service as identified and prioritised in the Defence White Paper and the Report of the Commission, while building on the significant investment programme over recent years.
