Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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13. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence for an overview of the procurement of additional assets for the Air Corps and the Naval Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5668/25]

Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Tánaiste as ucht a bheith i láthair inniu chun an cheist seo a fhreagairt. I am extremely proud that Casement Aerodrome, the headquarters of the Air Corps is based in Baldonnel in my constituency, Dublin Mid-West. Like Deputy Cleere, I would love to invite the Tánaiste to visit the facility and see the tremendous work our personnel in the Air Corps do. My question relates to the procurement of additional assets for the Air Corps and Naval Service. One of the key recommendations made in the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces was to ensure the Naval Service and the Air Corps have adequate equipment. I would welcome the Tánaiste's initial thoughts on that matter.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I would be delighted to accept his invitation to visit Casement Aerodrome at Baldonnel. It is somewhere I know well but I would benefit from coming in, sitting down and looking at what I know is the exciting master planning being done for that site. There is huge potential to do so much more. I will very much take the Deputy up on his invitation. I look forward to the visit with him.

My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that we have operational capability of the Defence Forces and that it is maintained at the level it is at, but that we go significantly beyond that so it is developed further. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government.

Equipment priorities for the Defence Forces are considered in the context of the established capacity development and this will be called the equipment development planning processes. This has been underpinned by significant increases in funding, with the last budget providing a record allocation of €1.35 billion for our defence sector, which is an increase of €100 million on the previous year.

A number of projects are currently being progressed under the Air Corps aircraft renewal and replacement programme. The delivery of a third Airbus C-295 aircraft, in military transport specification, is scheduled for this September. A contract was awarded in 2024 for a Dassault Falcon 6X multipurpose strategic reach aircraft, which is scheduled for delivery in December of this year. A contract was also awarded last year for the provision of four Airbus H145M light-utility multirole helicopters, with deliveries of those four Airbus helicopters due to begin in 2027. In addition to these procurements, further rotary wing capability will be the subject of a future procurement process beginning in the near term.

Projects under the Naval Service vessel renewal and replacement programmes are also being progressed. Two inshore patrol vessels purchased on a government-to-government basis from New Zealand, LÉ Aoibhinn and LÉ Gobnait, were commissioned into service in 2024. Other projects being progressed include planning for the potential procurement of a multirole vessel, the replacement of a secondary armament across the fleet, and enhanced sub-sea awareness capabilities. Further additions to the equipment development plan are also being kept under consideration.

Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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I agree with the Minister that the planned upgrade for the Baldonnel site is extremely exciting. I am looking forward to seeing progress on that. I am aware that South Dublin County Council is extremely engaged on that overall, aside from the connectivity that was made available for personnel who work in the aerodrome.

On the specific questions relating to equipment, I welcome the Minister's responses and thank him. Will he provide more information on the progress that is being made in acquiring the new multirole vessel to replace the decommissioned flagship LÉ Eithne? We need a flagship but we also need that multirole vessel.

Will the Minister provide more information on the development and procurement of a primary radar system, including the recognised air picture functionality? As we move towards LOA2 are there further plans, outside of what he has outlined, to purchase additional aircraft or additional medium-lift helicopters?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I cannot give more details on where we are in replacing that naval vehicle beyond what I have said. On radar and subsea awareness capabilities, and particularly given the current security environment in which Ireland resides as the State is not immune from the current geopolitical security environment, I have asked my officials to consider a more aggressive procurement strategy around how we can make progress on this. Recommended as part of the move to LOA2 is the development of a new air defence system compatible with and integrated into the recognised air picture, RAP, which also requires military primary radar air capability. A project team comprising senior civil and military personnel has commenced work on a programme to develop further military radar capabilities. This includes military primary radar systems, ground-based air defence, and maritime and counter unmanned aerial systems. These are costly and complex projects but delivery has been prioritised by the Government and 2028 has been identified as a target date for delivery. I have asked officials to consider a much more aggressive timeline given the security environment in which we reside.

Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht an fhreagra sin. I welcome very much the fact that the product team has been put in place, and that the Minister has asked for a more certain timeline in the delivery of that equipment. I believe it will be the first time an Irish Government will buy that sort of equipment. Perhaps the Minister will speak a little bit as to how the Minister is keeping value for money at top of his mind and what is the approach being taken to procurement to ensure that the equipment we purchase is adequate for our needs and also ensures value for the taxpayer. I thank the Minister for the information relating to the acquisition of the multirole vessel. I will be watching that with interest.

I welcome the delivery later on this year of the Airbus C-295 military transport aircraft. Airlift capacity is something that we need to make sure we are not reliant on friends and neighbours for delivery of our citizens wherever they may be in whatever trouble spots around the world.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I very much welcome that delivery as well because we have to be cognisant of the fact that all too often the evacuation is required of our citizens from certain parts of the world. It is becoming a much more frequent occurrence and while we have great partners, we are proud members of the European Union and we have great friends, we also have an obligation to be in a position to assist our own citizens. Some of the significant investments we are making in our Air Corps will make a real and meaningful difference in that.

I assure the Deputy with regard to the work that has been done on radar and the systems. We are absolutely endeavouring to secure the normal value for money and business cases and procurement processes, and all the other things that the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery, and Reform quite rightly make us follow. To ensure value for money for the taxpayer these will absolutely be to the fore of our consideration and to the group that are working on it. As the Minister for Defence, the most important and urgent thing to the fore of my mind would be making sure we can get our hands on this as quickly as possible.