Ms Julie Sinnamon:

To go back to the implementation plan for a moment, I share the view that if a plan covers an extensive period there are concerns that everything will get back-loaded. The format of the plan we will be developing is that it will show what is going to happen in 2023, in 2024 and then from 2025 to 2028. There is, therefore, a focus on ensuring the plan is accelerating as much as possible to bring forward developments in 2023 and 2024. It is not just going to set out what will bed one; there will be timelines for everything. This is what the implementation group is going to be overseeing to ensure the plan is delivered in line with those timeframes. It will be time specific in that regard.

The capital investment increase and the figures for 2023 were record amounts for the Defence Forces, from a budgetary perspective. The 2024 budget has not been agreed yet, as the Deputy will be aware, but in order for this plan to be delivered the budget will have to be increased to bring it to the 2028 level as set out in the plan.

To go back to one of the points the Deputy made on the joint induction centre, this has been established now in Gormanston barracks.

It will provide initial training for recruits from all branches of the Defence Forces, including the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps, based on a common syllabus. This is in place.

The office of the Reserve Defence Force has been established and a senior person has been appointed at colonel level from the Defence Forces. Recruitment will continue once the initial appointment has been made. A draft campaign plan for Reserve Defence Force regeneration had been submitted to the Deputy Chief of Staff for observations. Progress has been made on that side at that level. I cannot answer the question on disengagement from the Golan Heights. I will have a response submitted to the Deputy subsequently on it.