Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
157. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to outline the capital allocations in 2023 for the Defence Forces; the breakdown, by project, of expenditure that has been or will be incurred in 2023; the projected capital budget in 2024; when the Equipment Development Plan was last updated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36260/23]
View answerFor 2023, the total overall gross allocation provided to the Defence Vote, as set out in Budget 2023, is €915 million. This significant allocation represents an overall increase of €79 million on 2022 and includes an increase of €35 million in the capital allocation to €176 million, a 25% increase on 2022.
As outlined in the 2023 Revised Estimates Volume (REV), over €101 million of the Defence capital allocation is allocated for Defence Forces Capability Development purposes, with expenditure allocated across the following multi-annual programme areas -
- the Land Forces Capability Development and Force Protection Programme, with €2.6 million expenditure to date in 2023 on the continued procurement of Armoured Utility Vehicles, €0.8 million on the mid life upgrade of the APC fleet and approx €0.5 million on other force protection measures;
- the Naval Service Vessel Renewal and Replacement Programme, with €14 million expenditure to date in 2023 on two Inshore Patrol Vessels from New Zealand and €1 million on the continuing Mid Life Extension Programme for LÉ Niamh and
- the Air Corps Aircraft Renewal and Replacement Programme, with €29.4 million expenditure to date in 2023 on the continuing procurement of two C295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft and €7.6 million on a military transport aircraft.
The capital allocation also includes €45 million towards the enhancement of Defence Forces Built Infrastructure. This facilitates the progression of key infrastuctural projects throughout 2023, including €2 million expenditure to date in 2023 on the ongoing upgrade of the USAC building in Galway and €1.2 million on the provision of new accommodation blocks in Collins Barracks, Cork, with further spending on other infrastructural projects across the Defence Forces estate.
The remaining €30 million of the overall capital allocation provides for ongoing Defence Forces ICT, Transport and other essential capital investment needs.
The level of further payments on these projects in 2023 is dependent on the extent of their advancement. However, the Department is confident that the entire capital allocation of €176 million will be expended in 2023.
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.
Ongoing and future Defence capital programmes/projects, primarily encompassing Defence Forces equipment and infrastructural requirements, are planned and prioritised through the Defence Equipment Development Plan (EDP) and the Defence Infrastructural Development Plan. Defence capital investment is atypical and multi-annual, with long lead-in times. Therefore, the EDP remains a living document, which is subjected to regular reviews and updates and, at all times, remains cognisant of funding availability, organisational priorities and timing issues. The last EDP update was undertaken in Quarter 1, 2023.
The Defence budget allocation is determined within an overarching budgetary framework which encompasses existing NDP multi-annual capital allocations and remains cognisant of the level of resources available, commensurate with defence policy requirements. It is within this context that forthcoming Estimates 2024 discussions will take place with the Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery & Reform over the coming months, to include full consideration of Defence capital investment priorities for 2024 and beyond.
