Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 288: To ask the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to claims made at the PDFORRA annual conference in Athlone that the Government's failure to invest in new military aircraft and armoured fighting equipment is having a damaging effect on Defence Forces' morale; his plans to address same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32083/05]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I do not concur with the views expressed by PDFORRA at its recent annual conference in Athlone on the subject of defence expenditure with particular regard to spending on modern equipment. The position is that there has been an unprecedented level of expenditure on infrastructure and equipment for the Defence Forces in recent years and it is my clear intention to continue with the investment programme for the foreseeable future. I have seen proof positive of this investment in my visits to military barracks around the country. Soldiers are very well equipped with modern equipment to carry out their roles whether at home or overseas. My experience is that the morale of soldiers is generally very high from the equipment and infrastructural perspective and I have some difficulty in understanding where exactly PDFORRA is coming from on this issue.

The increased level of expenditure on equipment for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service was made possible by the Government's decision that pay savings arising from the reorganisation of the Defence Forces set out in the White Paper of 2000, along with proceeds from the sale of surplus properties, would be reallocated for investment in modern facilities and equipment. Investment in new equipment for the Defence Forces is provided for under various subheads of the defence Vote relating to defensive equipment, mechanical transport, aircraft, ships and naval stores, engineering, communications, information technology equipment, etc. All elements of the Defence Forces, the Army, Air Corps, Naval Service and Reserve Defence Force have benefited from the investment in new equipment.

Over the past six years, more than €200 million has been expended on the purchase of 65 armoured personnel carriers and the Javelin missile system for the Army, new patrol vessels for the Naval Service and new trainer aircraft for the Air Corps. The programme of investment is continuing apace. Last January, I signed contracts for six new helicopters for the Air Corps costing more than €60 million. Planning is well under way on the replacement programme for the next Naval Service ships to reach the end of their economic life and a further 15 armoured personnel carriers will be added to our current fleet. It is expected that the contract for the additional 15 APCs will be signed by the end of the year.

There are also ongoing acquisitions of modern equipment for use by soldiers on operational duties. The individual soldier is now required to carry an array of equipment while engaged on such duties. In that regard, one of the essential ongoing equipment acquisition projects relates to the provision of a modern integrated protection and load carrying system for members of the Defence Forces. This involves, inter alia, the personal protective equipment consisting of body armour and helmet. The aim is to have a new, lighter protective system, consisting of body armour and helmet, which is compatible with all current and future systems required for each soldier. A tender competition is currently in train for the provision of body armour for individual soldiers. It is expected that an order will be placed shortly for 6000 units. In addition, a separate tender competition for helmets is also in train for the acquisition of 12,000 units. Again, it is expected an order will be placed in the near future.

On the clothing front, significant amounts have been spent by my Department on the purchase of uniforms, boots and other clothing worn by members of the Defence Forces, with €3.22 million spent in 2004 and €3.37 million expended to date in 2005. A tender competition for the replacement of the existing FN 9 mm Browning automatic pistol is also in train. It is expected that an order will be placed in the first quarter of 2006.

The equipment issued to the Defence Forces is in keeping with the most modern requirements and the highest international standards. The programmes to which I have referred reflect that massive steps have been taken in recent years to modernise Defence Forces equipment and that substantial efforts are continuing on the equipment front. The continuation of investment in equipment for the Defence Forces remains a top priority for me.