Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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295. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the budget available to his Department remains sufficient to meet requirements in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23439/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The total gross budget allocation for the Defence and Army Pensions Votes in 2017 is over €921 million. This allocation provides for the pay and allowances of over 10,400 public service employees (including 9,500 members of the Permanent Defence Force), ongoing Defence Forces standing and operational costs and also facilitates investment in essential equipment and infrastructure. It also provides for the payment of pension entitlements to former members of the Defence Forces.

The budget allocation allows the Defence Forces to deliver on all their assigned roles, both at home and overseas, as set out in the White Paper on Defence.