Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 January 2024
161. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the extent to which equipment in the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps continue to be upgraded through the standards equal to the best; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3032/24]
View answerMy 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 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.
Work on capital investment in aircraft continues, a contract with Airbus has been placed at a cost of €72 million, including VAT for a military transport aircraft for the 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. In addition, a competitive process to acquire a new mid sized aircraft for Ministerial Air Transport has just been published on the Official Journal of the European Union platform.
The programme for the supply of two C295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft has now been completed, following the delivery of both aircraft 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.
The two Inshore Patrol Vessels, purchased from New Zealand to replace LÉ Orla and LÉ Ciara, are expected to become fully operational over the coming months during following a comprehensive programme of works, including crew familiarisation and training. Marine advisors have been appointed by my Department to support the procurement of a Multi-Role Vessel (MRV), as provided for in the Government's National Development Plan, and work is progressing in line with the steps in the Public Spending Code. 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.
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 Piranha 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. Technology is an enabler of modern military forces and a major upgrade of elements of the Defence Forces secure communications infrastructure is underway following the awarding of a contract in Q4 2023 for the supply of Software Defined Radio capability to the Defence Forces at a cost of €76.1m inclusive of VAT. This critical programme will deliver cutting edge radios along with associated systems and supports to the Defence Forces.
The Defence 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 the Estimates 2024 discussions took place with the Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform, to include full consideration of Defence capital investment priorities for 2024 and beyond. The Department of Defence has received a capital allocation of €176 million in Budget 2024. This level of capital funding allows 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 on the Defence Forces, while building on the significant investment programme over recent years.
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.
