Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 May 2024
16. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his plans to meet the capital allocation required to meet level of ambition 2 as outlined by the Commission on the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22058/24]
View answerThe Government approved a move to Level of Ambition 2 (LOA2), as recommended by the Commission on the Defence Forces in July, 2022. As part of that decision, the Government committed to increasing the funding allocated to Defence to €1.5 billion (at 2022 prices) by 2028, through the annual Estimates process.
Delivery of this objective will allow the required transformation and investment in Defence recruitment, equipment and infrastructure that was identified by the Commission. It is worth noting that the Commission Report included an approximation of the likely annual capital costs of LOA2 rather than an outline of any annual capital investment targets to be achieved during the transition to that level.
Last March, Minister Donohoe published revised multi-annual capital spending allocations across Departments out to 2026. This increased funding will facilitate the progression of key capital projects and programmes under the 2021-30 National Development Plan (NDP). For Defence, this will see the capital allocation rise from its 2024 level of €176 million to €215 million in 2025 and €220 million in 2026, a level of increase which will bring the Defence allocation to its highest ever level.
Certainty on future capital funding is a key strategic enabler for Defence to ensure a pipeline of Defence equipment and infrastructural projects are always progressing. In that context, the certainty now provided by the availability of over €600 million in capital funding out to 2026 is welcomed as it will facilitate the progression of essential projects, greatly enhance the physical working environment and equipment of the Defence Forces and support the transformation of the Defence Forces in line with the Government commitment to move towards Level of Ambition 2.
