Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 June 2023
195. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the extent to which the budget available to his Department remains sufficient to meet requirements in the course of the coming year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29807/23]
View answerFor 2023, the total overall gross allocation provided to the Defence Vote Group, as set out in Budget 2023, is €1.21 billion, comprising of over €915 million on the Defence Vote and over €294 million on the Army Pensions Vote. This significant allocation represents an overall increase of €93 million on 2022 and comprises of an increase of €35 million in the capital allocation and €58 million in the current allocation across the Vote Group.
This allocation reflects the commitment of the Government to providing a financial platform for the defence sector to initiate the transformation of the Defence Forces as recommended by the Commission. It also brings our defence capabilities closer to European norms and ensures the Defence Forces maintain their ongoing capacity to deliver on all roles assigned by the Government, both at home and overseas.
The Commission on the Defence Forces reinforced the urgent requirement for significant capital investment on defensive equipment programmes and on upgrading and modernising the Defence Forces built infrastructure. The Defence capital allocation has increased by €35 million, to €176 million, a 25% increase on 2022, an allocation which represents the single biggest annual capital investment ever provided to defence. Many of the military equipment projects are complex, multi-annual and have long lead-in times, so the additional funding now provided will further enable the Department and the Defence Forces to plan, prioritise and deliver on scheduled projects over the coming years. In particular, it allows my Department to progress its consideration of the development of a primary radar capability and the procurement of additional force protection equipment. A significant number of building projects will also advance under the Defence Forces built infrastructure programme, which will modernise and upgrade defence built infrastructure over the coming years.
The allocation for current expenditure in the Defence Vote has increased by €44 million to €739 million, comprising of €175 million to meet standing and operational costs and €564 million for the ongoing pay and allowances of the Defence Forces, civilian employees and departmental civil servants, including the costs associated with the existing Building Momentum pay deal.
The allocation includes funding to facilitate further recruitment to the Permanent Defence Force, in line with the recommendations of the commission. Funding has also facilitated implementation of a number of key recommendations of the commission, such as specific enhancements to pay and allowances and the recent appointment of a Head of Transformation for the Defence Forces, as outlined in the high-level action plan.
The allocation for Vote 35 - Army Pensions - has increased by €14 million to €294 million and it is expected that this amount will meet the pension costs for more than 13,100 ex-members of the Defence Forces and their dependants.
All expenditure within my Department is profiled and monitored closely and I’m satisfied that the funding allocation provided to the Defence Vote Group for 2023 will enable the Defence Forces to deliver effectively on all its key domestic and international responsibilities and will facilitate progression on the transformation of the Defence Forces as recommended by the Commission.
