John Brady
Ceist:398. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence the current capital expenditure budget for the Defence Forces for 2022 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51605/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 18 October 2022
Ceisteanna (398)
Freagraí scríofa
The White Paper on Defence 2015, reinforced by the White Paper Update 2019, sets out the Government’s medium term policy for Defence. It is recognised that the principal demand drivers of Defence capital requirements are the ongoing renewal, retention and acquisition of military equipment along with the development and upgrade of Defence Forces built infrastructure.
The acquisition of military equipment is pursued through a comprehensive Equipment Development Plan which provides a consolidated, structured basis for investment in military equipment to maintain and develop necessary capabilities. Similarly, a Defence Forces Built Infrastructure Programme sets out the requirements for essential infrastructure development works over a medium term timeframe. These strategic frameworks combine to provide the basis for medium term equipment and infrastructural planning and investment requirements for the Defence Forces.
Multi-Annual capital funding allocations are framed by the overarching National Development Plan, with annual allocations negotiated as part of the annual Estimates process. In 2021, a mid term review of the National Development Plan was undertaken and the capital allocation for Defence was increased to €566 million for the period 2022 to 2025, with annual allocations as follows –
|
- |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Defence NDP Capital Funding Allocation |
€141m |
€141m |
€142m |
€142m |
As part of the Budget Estimates process for 2023, and in line with this Government’s commitment to ensure the implementation of the recommendations of the Commission on the Defence Forces, the Defence capital allocation for 2023 has increased significantly, by €35 million, to €176 million, a 25% increase on 2022, an allocation which represents the single biggest annual capital investment ever provided to Defence.
This increase in funding reinforces commitments made by this Government to providing a financial platform for the Defence Sector for the required transformation, as recommended by the Commission on the Defence Forces.
Many of the Defence Equipment projects are complex, multi-annual and have long lead-in times. The certainty of funding provided by the multi-annual allocations outlined in the National Development Plan provides a baseline which enables the Department and the Defence Forces to plan, prioritise and deliver on scheduled projects.