Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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12. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the projects funded by Defence capital expenditure from 2016 to 2019; the projects planned in 2020; and the specific funding allocated to each. [3560/20]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Gross Defence capital expenditure outturn over the years 2016 to 2019 was €429 million. This level of funding facilitated a programme of sustained equipment replacement and renewal and infrastructure development, as set out in the Defence White Paper. 

Major Defence capital projects are multi annual in nature and expenditure can span a number of years. The following table outlines the major capital equipment projects which were progressed over the 2016 to 2019 period. Project 1 is now concluded; Projects 2 to 6 will continue in 2020 and will be funded from overall available capital funds.

Major Capital Equipment Projects from 2016 to 2019:

*2019 figures are provisional

Over the period referenced, further capital expenditure was invested in a range of additional programmes including force protection, transport, communications and information technology, weapons and ammunition systems.

Along with equipment programmes, capital investment in Defence Forces Built Infrastructure of €46 million over the period from 2016 to 2019 has facilitated the modernisation and renewal of barrack infrastructure across a broad range of military installations throughout the country.

A capital expenditure allocation of €113 million has been allocated to Vote 36 Defence in 2020, an increase of €7 million on the corresponding 2019 NDP allocation. This is in accordance with the overall National Development Plan, which provides for a total capital allocation of €541 million for Defence for the period 2018 to 2022.

The main categories of capital expenditure in the 2020 Defence allocation are as follows:

- Capability Development - €76 million;

- Defence Forces Built Infrastructure - €20 million;

- Military Transport - €6 million;

- Defence Forces Communication and Information Technology Equipment - €5 million;

- Other Equipment - €6 million.

This level of capital funding demonstrates the Government’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that the Defence Forces have the capabilities necessary to deliver on all their assigned roles, both at home and overseas.