Cathal Berry (Kildare South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I also mention it up because, as the Tánaiste stated, the sectoral national development plan allocations will be coming on stream soon. I presume that the defence apparatus will be fighting for at least its fair share of that. I will hammer home the point that we are, in the context of GDP and GNI*, only getting one third of the EU average when it comes to defence spending. If our health service or education service were only getting a third of the EU average those services would be in complete disarray. This is one of the reasons it will be very hard to modernise the Defence Forces unless we can increase the funding allocation. Anything the Government can do in the context of a sectoral NDP allocation would be massively appreciated.

The Tánaiste referred to defence funding being increased to €1.5 billion - at 2022 figures - by 2028. His predecessor, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Coveney, was always keen to point out in January 2022 that the figure would be €2 billion if inflation were taken into consideration. The Tánaiste has stated that it is dependent on the project.