Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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First of all, in terms of the 8% increase in current expenditure and the 25% increase in capital expenditure, I believe those increases in both current and capital expenditure are very much tied into achieving the recommendations of the Commission on the Defence Forces, particularly on the capital side. Considering that there is a fairly significant lead-in time in capital projects more generally, an increase of 25% now means a far more significant increase in perhaps years 3 and 4, when some of the capital projects come to realisation. Primary radar, for example, could be a bigger project in terms of maritime radar and so on and having different systems and making sure there is interoperability. In other words, what we start now will have a higher cost later. When you start a road project, the initial costs are the design, scoping and so on. You do not actually incur the main costs in the first year or two. It is when you are actually either drawing down the project or realising the project that the heavy costs come. That is very significant in terms of the commitment to infrastructural investment.

Since I have come in to the Department I have looked at measures that we can take to accelerate some of the projects. I have requested an assessment in respect of the training centre in Gormanstown. I would be very keen to accelerate that project if we can. I have asked the military management if we get it done as one project in a more accelerated way, rather than doing it in different phases. On a capital front, we will take any opportunities that we get to accelerate work.

On the question about the barracks, anything that is under the control of the Department of Defence is covered by the relevant subhead, and would have to be. Even if barracks may not be in use, we have an obligation and a responsibility in respect of the built heritage and also safety and protection, and we must also ensure sure there is potential use for the barracks subsequently. We committed to transferring Columb Barracks to the Land Development Agency, LDA, to be reclassed for housing provision. There are pre-contractual matters to discuss and so on, and there is engagement with the Chief State Solicitor's office, CSSO. That work between the LDA and the CSSO is nearing completion. A public consultation process on the future of the site was conducted by the LDA. However, in the meantime we have to make sure it is safe and protected in terms of public health and safety. We do not have a timeline yet from the LDA in terms of it taking charge of the delivery of the project.

On the built infrastructure planned projects, a midterm review of the plan was completed by the Department and the Defence Forces last year, which sets out the projects to be progressed in the next five years.

The following are the key capital projects: €18 million for the upgrading and refurbishment of two buildings at McKee Barracks; €15.4 million for the new military medical facility at Casement Aerodrome and the relocation of St. Bricin's Military Hospital; €10 million to upgrade the former USAC block in Renmore Barracks, Galway; €9.5 million to upgrade the block 4 accommodation at Haulbowline - I think a lot of that funding has been advanced or is on the way; €9 million for the new communications and information services workshop facility at the Defence Forces Training Centre; €9 million for two new accommodation blocks and the refurbishment of block 1 at Collins Barracks; €9.2 million for the upgrade of block 9 office accommodation at Haulbowline; €7.8 million for a new Army Rangers wing headquarters building; €4.1 million for the cadet school headquarters; and €1.9 million for the relocation of the printing press at McKee Barracks. These projects are all at different stages of design, planning and construction. There is a lot going on. I will come back to the Deputy with a note on the White Paper projects and their dovetailing with the projects to which I referred. I do not have the full list of specific projects in front of me but the ones I mentioned were identified by the review.

On civilian pay increases, the national pay awards under the Building Momentum deal are included in the agreement. As Deputy Clarke noted, staff numbers have gone down. As per the new agreement, the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform has given us in the 2023 Estimates the funding equivalent of approximately 8,600 posts. The numbers are currently at just below 8,000 but we keep that income for 2023. The increase is more on the pay side and covering the target of 8,600. We then made up for that in terms of the other increases we got on the non-pay and capital side, as we discussed.

The bottom line is that we still have a significant issue with recruitment and retention. That is the fundamental issue and it is not resource-dependent in the sense that we have an agreed ceiling of 9,600 to which we can expand in the context of the objectives set out by the Commission on the Defence Forces. If the numbers increase, we get the money automatically. That is not an issue. The issue is making sure we achieve net recruitment of the scale we require. I have had meetings on this with military management and the Department. We have to approach it from the recruitment side. The pay and conditions have improved and, as I outlined, there is a substantial increase in the starting pay, which is now €36,000. For newly commissioned officers, a school leaver who has applied for cadet training will now be commissioned after 15 to 18 months and will start on a salary of €40,316. If officers are already graduates when they join, they start on a salary of €45,496, inclusive of the military service allowance. Those salaries compare favourably with the average graduate entry salary across all sectors of the economy. This is the result of decisions that were made in the past year and a half.

We are consistently looking at ways we can improve conditions for Defence Forces members. Salary is one aspect of it. We also need to work on the culture aspect and making the Defence Forces an attractive place for people to come into and work within. We need to analyse where young people are today, what attracts them and what will ensure their sustainability in the service, whether in the Army, the navy or the Air Corps. We have a bit of work to do on that, which I openly acknowledge. If people have ideas or contributions to offer for how we can achieve this, I am open to them across the board. I am worried about the numbers we have. We need to increase them. The second side of the story is retention. I have spoken to my officials about this and they have been in discussion with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. We will accelerate those discussions with a view to devising measures that will help to retain people for longer in the Defence Forces. That is urgent work given the situation we are in.

On A8, the equipment development plan provides a comprehensive list of planned equipment projects, which will be progressed over a five-year period. Among the major defence equipment upo

On subhead A8, the equipment development plan provides a comprehensive list of planned equipment projects, which will be progressed over a five-year period. Among the major defence equipment upgrade and replacement programmes that are now progressing are the land forces capability development and force protection programmes, including an upgrade of the military transport fleet and next-generation radio communications and signal equipment. There is also the ongoing Naval Service vessel renewal and replacement programme, which includes the mid-life refit of the P50 class of naval vessels and the progression of the multi-role vessel project. The ongoing Air Corps aircraft renewal and replacement programme includes-----