Sorca Clarke
Question:145. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his Department's capital underspend, if any, in 2023; and his Department's projected spend in 2024. [17418/24]
View answerTuesday, 23 April 2024
Questions (145)
Written answers
The total allocation provided for Vote 36 – Defence in 2023 was €915 million, which included the significant capital allocation of €176 million. The provisional outturn for 2023 indicates a total capital spend of €209 million, amounting to 119% of the allocation.
The principal demand drivers of Defence capital requirements are the ongoing acquisition and renewal of military equipment, along with the development and upgrade of Defence Forces built infrastructure and ICT capacity. These capital projects are often atypical, with long lead-in times and are usually pursued over a multi-annual timeframe.
Equipment and Infrastructural priorities for the Defence Forces are considered in the context of the established Equipment Development Plan (EDP) and Infrastructure Development Plan (IDP) frameworks operating within my Department. This approach ensures that our Defence Forces have the major equipment platforms, ancillary equipment and force protection equipment to carry out their important roles, both at home and overseas.
For 2023, the capital expenditure of €209 million provided to Vote 36 – Defence facilitated the progression of a significant number of Defence equipment projects, such as:
• the acquisition of two Airbus C295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft;
• the acquisition of a C295 Transport Aircraft;
• the acquisition of two Inshore Patrol Vessels from the New Zealand Government to replace LÉ Orla and LÉ Ciara;
• the acquisition of Software Defined Radio;
• the ongoing midlife upgrade of the Army's fleet of Mowag Piranha III Armoured Personnel Carriers.
Aligned with the progression of Defence Equipment projects, the Defence Forces Infrastructure Development Plan (IDP) has enabled ongoing modernising and upgrading of the Defence built infrastructure portfolio.
Multiple projects are progressing at different stages of development, such as:
• the construction of the Cadet School HQ, Defence Forces Training Centre (completed in 2023);
• the McKee Block H upgrade (completed in 2023);
• the construction of a new Military Medical Facility at Casement Aerodrome;
• the upgrade of the former University Students Administrative Complement (USAC), Student Facility in Galway;
• the upgrade of Accommodation Block 4 at the Naval Base, Haulbowline;
• the construction of a new CIS Workshop Facility and a purpose built ARW facility at the Defence Forces Training Centre;
• the development of a broad range of facility improvements and upgrades in military locations across the country.
For 2024, the Defence capital allocation remains at its highest ever level of €176 million and it is expected that the entire allocation will be expended by year-end. In addition, following the recent review of NDP multi-annual allocations, the capital allocations for the Defence Vote for 2025 and 2026 have been significantly increased, to €215 million and €220 million respectively.
The primary return on Defence capital investment is the maintenance and development of necessary military capabilities, and in that regard, the increased capital funding now available to Defence will accelerate the transformation of the Defence Forces in line with the objectives and timeframes set out in the Detailed Implementation Plan for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces (CODF).