Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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545. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the projected capital spending from 2022 to 2025 in his Department. [16516/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The White Paper on Defence 2015, reinforced by the White Paper Update 2019, sets out the Government’s medium term policy for Defence. It is recognised that the principal demand drivers of Defence capital funding are the ongoing renewal, retention and acquisition of military equipment along with the development of Defence Forces built infrastructure.

The acquisition of military equipment is pursued through a comprehensive Equipment Development Plan which provides a consolidated, structured basis for investment in military equipment to maintain and develop necessary capabilities. Similarly, an Infrastructure Development Plan sets out the requirements for essential infrastructure development works over a medium term timeframe. These strategic frameworks provide the basis for medium term equipment and infrastructural planning and investment requirements for the Defence Forces.

Capital allocations for the period from 2022 to 2025 are not available yet, pending the completion of the National Development Plan Review process now underway. My Department is actively engaged with this process and I look forward to a positive outcome for Defence which will ensure that the Defence Forces continue to have the capabilities necessary to deliver on all their assigned roles, both at home and overseas, for the coming years.