Vol. 501 No. 2
109 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the degree to which modern military equipment is available to the Defence Forces; the updating, if any, which will be carried out in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5030/99]
In recent years considerable sums have been expended under the Defence Vote in updating military equipment for the Defence Forces. Total amounts spent on such equipment for the past four years are as follows:– 1995, £18 million; 1996, £20 million; 1997, £31 million and 1998, £37 million.
It is estimated that approximately £55 million. will be spent on equipment this year.
Some of the more important developments in relation to the improvement of Defence Forces' equipment are:– a new fishery patrol vessel due for delivery later this year; the supply of 16 new turrets and 16 fire directing systems for fitting to existing Panhard armoured cars. The first two turrets and two fire directing systems will be delivered and fitted next month and the balance is expected to be delivered and fitted towards the end of this year; the supply in 1998 of 12 refurbished 105mm. light artillery guns to replace "25 pounder" guns which are now obsolete; delivery, in December 1998, of the final instalment of equipment to complete a major programme to provide new tactical VHF radios for the Defence Forces at a total cost of approximately £10.5 million. and expenditure in 1998 of approximately £3.5 million. on new troop carrying vehicles, such as 4 × 4's, three quarter ton trucks, buses, motorcycles and an ambulance.
The competition for the supply of up to 40 armoured personnel carriers over a five year period has now moved to the final phase with the issuing of tender documentation to the two firms successful in the first phase. I expect that a contract will be in place by the middle of this year and the first APCs should arrive in this country by the middle of next year.
