Military vehicles undergo regular maintenance and overhauls to ensure that they are roadworthy. When a vehicle reaches its end of life, the vehicle is withdrawn from operational service and disposed of. It is not the practice to retain a vehicle in service if it is not considered roadworthy. Military vehicles are normally disposed of in accordance with S.I. No 282 of 2006 ‘End of life Vehicle Regulations'.
The Defence Forces is equipped with a modern transport fleet which has proven itself capable of undertaking the roles assigned to it by Government, both domestically and in the recent overseas missions such as Chad and Kosovo. The recent addition of the Roll Over Protection Systems for Troop Carrying Vehicles has increased the level of protection available to Defence Forces personnel whilst being transported on such vehicles.
Notwithstanding the current budgetary situation, a limited number of important equipment purchases will be advanced in 2010 including the delivery of 27 Light Tactical Armoured Vehicles from BAE Systems in South Africa. Other transport related acquisitions scheduled this year include 22 Minibuses, 2 ambulances, 45 patrol vehicles and 4 mid-coaches for troop transportation. In addition, funding is provided on a continuous basis for the required maintenance of the vehicles in the military transport fleet.