Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Defence the spending priorities for his Department following publication of the 2006 Book of Estimates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38169/05]

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 115: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will report on the 2006 Estimate for his Department. [38203/05]

Tom Kitt (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 115 together.

The combined Defence Forces and Army pensions Estimates for 2006 provide for gross expenditure of €957.5 million, comprising €783 million for defence and €174.5 million for Army pensions. During 2006 the policy of continuous recruitment to the Defence Forces to maintain strengths at the approved levels will be continued, as will the programmes of investment in equipment, infrastructure and facilities which have been undertaken in recent years.

The unprecedented level of expenditure on infrastructure and equipment for the Defence Forces in recent years 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 in 2000, along with proceeds from the sale of surplus properties, would be fully reallocated for investment in modern facilities and equipment. Over €192 million was spent on the capital investment programme for the upgrade of barracks, accommodation and other facilities between 1997 and the end of 2004. This year's defence Estimate includes €19 million for such capital works and a further €22 million is provided in the 2006 Estimate. This will facilitate a number of major new projects for 2006.

Over the past six years, over €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. Last January, the Minister for Defence signed contracts for six new helicopters for the Air Corps costing over €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. Further details of the re-equipment programme and of the capital works programme are contained in the reply to Question No. 17 of today's date.