Catherine Murphy
Ceist:487. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Defence if funding for the upgrade of explosive ordnance disposal robots will be provided. [15280/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 14 July 2020
Ceisteanna (487)
Freagraí scríofa
My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained to the greatest extent possible so as to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by Government both at home and overseas.
The acquisition of new equipment for the Defence Forces remains a clear focus for me. Future equipment priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are being considered in the context of the White Paper on Defence as part of the capability development and equipment priorities planning process. The principal aim over the period of the White Paper will be to replace and upgrade, as required, existing capabilities in order to retain a flexible response for a wide range of operational requirements, including response to security risks and other emergencies, both at home and overseas.
The recently published Equipment Development Plan (EDP) is a plan for the continued re-equipment of the Defence Forces, which was devised in tandem with the White Paper policies. The EDP is being funded under the National Development Plan – Project Ireland 2040. The EDP provides a comprehensive indicative list of planned equipment projects which will be advanced over the next five years.
The current capital allocation for Defence is €113 million for 2020, an increase of €7 million on the National Development Plan 2019 allocation. The NDP - Project Ireland 2040 - provides financial allocations for a total of €541 million for Defence over the period 2018-2022. This level of capital funding will allow the Defence Organisation to undertake a programme of sustained equipment replacement and infrastructural development across the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service as identified and prioritised in the Defence White Paper and builds on the significant investment programme.
Included in the EDP is the upgrade of the explosive ordnance disposal robots. This project which is security sensitive commenced in 2012 and is due for completion in 2020 at a total cost of some €5 million. The enhanced robots are deployed by the Ordnance Corps of the Defence Forces both at home and on overseas operations. They are vital tools in the identification and destruction of improvised explosive devices in a manner that is both effective and safe to the operators and the public.
I am satisfied that the Defence Forces have the necessary equipment resources available to them, including a modern and effective range of equipment which is line with best international standards in order to fulfil all roles assigned to them by Government.