Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 70: To ask the Minister for Defence if he has satisfied himself that military training techniques and equipment, including military vehicles, are sufficiently up to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24529/04]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I am satisfied that military training techniques and equipment, including military vehicles, are up to date in all respects.

Defence Forces training plans are structured to provide the capabilities needed to execute the roles assigned to them under the White Paper on Defence of February 2000. Priority is given to meeting operational tasks in Ireland. The challenges of preparing military units for participation in international peace support operations constitute the major dimension of Defence Forces collective training. The primary focus of this training is the attainment of a capability for military interoperability in order to conduct peace support operations to international standards. The Defence Forces keep abreast of developments at international level by regular attendance at training courses and seminars, at home and abroad.

There has been an unprecedented level of expenditure on equipment for the Defence Forces in recent years. This includes a substantive programme for the acquisition of modern transport vehicles. Recent acquisitions include Nissan patrols, minibuses, Ford transits, heavy load carrying vehicles — Drops — and specialist EOD vehicles.