Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 June 2023
98. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if additional funding will be allocated in Budget 2024 in order to implement the recommendations of the Commission on Defence in relation to capital spending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29458/23]
View answerIn July 2022, the Government approved a move to Level of Ambition 2 (LOA2), as recommended by the Commission on the Defence Forces. As part of that decision the Government committed to increasing the Defence budget from €1.1 billion to €1.5 billion by 2028, as part of the annual budgetary process. This endorsement envisages, inter alia, increasing capital investment on equipment and infrastructure as identified by the Commission.
The annual Defence budget allocation is determined within the overarching budgetary framework, and approved by Dáil Eireann having regard to the level of resources available, and defence policy requirements. It is within this context that the annual Defence budget for 2024 will be determined, with the estimates process for 2024 set to commence shortly.
For 2023, the total overall gross allocation provided to the Defence Vote Group budget, 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 includes an increase of €35 million in the capital allocation to €176 million, a 25% increase on 2022.
Ongoing and future Defence capital programmes/projects are planned, prioritised and managed through the Defence Equipment Development Plan and the Defence Infrastructural Development Plan. These internal frameworks are supported and enabled by the recent establishment of a top-down civil-military Capability Development Branch - a key Commission recommendation.
The primary return on Defence capital investment is the maintenance and development of necessary military capabilities, which provide the means by which the Defence Forces contribute to national and international peace and security and fulfil all other roles assigned by Government.
In that regard, the increased level of capital investment provided to date will allow a significant number of building projects to advance under the Defence Infrastructure Development Plan. It will also allow for significant capital investment in defensive equipment programmes, to include the ongoing development of a primary radar capability along with the progression of a range of key force protection priorities identified in the Commission on the Defence Forces, thereby significantly enhancing the equipment and facilities available to the Defence Forces.
The significant additional funding allocated in Budget 2023 across capital expenditure categories highlights the positive commitment of Government to providing a strong financial platform capable of supporting a modern, agile military force, capable of responding to increasingly complex security threats. My Department remains absolutely committed to building on this successful outcome as we now move towards the commencement of Budget 2024 discussions over the coming months.
