Following the mid-term review of the capital plan, ‘Building on Recovery : Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2016 – 2021’, Budget 2018 set out the capital envelope for Vote 36 Defence, for the period 2018 – 2021. This provides increased funding for the essential renewal and replacement of equipment and infrastructure. This is critical in ensuring that the Defence Forces retain the capability to deliver on the roles assigned by Government, over the longer term.
Defence current expenditure funding provides for standing and operational costs and pay and allowances for members of the Defence Forces. The Defence Vote is fully funded to meet the full costs of the target strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel. Rates of pay and allowances for the Defence Forces are set, inter alia, by reference to relative levels of pay across the public sector. As provided for under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020, the Public Service Pay Commission is currently considering recruitment and retention issues in the Defence Forces.