Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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104. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will report on the implementation of projects under the white paper on Defence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3795/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The White Paper on Defence sets the defence policy agenda over a ten year planning horizon and covers all aspects of defence within the broader security policy framework. Since publication of the White Paper in 2015, a total of 95 separate projects have been identified for completion over a ten-year period. To provide flexibility, projects may be sub-divided or merged, changing the top-line number. Project and Programme Management Governance arrangements were put in place to monitor the ongoing status of individual projects and to review the scope of projects within the programme.

Implementation of all of the projects is being carried out on a phased basis through the use of a project management framework with each being managed by a joint Civil-Military Project Team. The overall process is being kept under on-going review and will be subject to change as issues arise and other business dictates.

Following on from the White Paper Update 2019 and the Government’s High Level Implementation Plan to implement the Report of the Public Service Pay Commission, senior civil and military management concluded a review in early 2021 of the projects which resulted in reprioritisation of certain projects. This took account of work that is progressing across the organisation which has been contributing to implementation of the White Paper.

The review of progress on all projects led to the approval of an updated White Paper Programme Implementation Roadmap. Of the initial 95 projects, 66 have been formally initiated to date with 47 now formally closed and an additional four are in the closing process. Commencement of a further 15 projects in the period 2022 to 2025 was also approved. 14 other projects have been deferred, pending recommendations of the Commission on the Defence Forces which is due to report shortly.

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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106. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if his Department will be purchasing new land vehicles, naval vessels or aircraft in 2022. [3630/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government, as set out in the White Paper on Defence. Equipment priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are being considered in the context of the lifetime of the White Paper on Defence as part of the capability development and Equipment Development Planning (EDP) process.

The Department of Defence has received a capital allocation under the National Development Plan of €566m over the 2022-2025 timeframe. Within that capital allocation the Defence annual capital budget for 2022 is €141m.

There are a number of defensive equipment acqusition and upgrade projects for which there will be capital expenditure in the coming years and which will see the delivery of additional capability in 2022. These include the midlife upgrade of the Army's fleet of 80 Mowag Piranha III armoured personnel carrier vehicles which is well underway as well as the completion of the delivery of an additional 30 Armoured Utility Vehicles. The Army's softskin fleet continues to be updated also with over 220 vehicles due for delivery in 2022.

In relation to air-based capability, the programme for the supply of two C295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft is well underway with delivery of the aircraft expected in 2023. Alongside the recently acquired PC-12 aircraft some €276 million, including VAT, has been committed to the acquisition of all of these enhanced capabilities.

With regard to the Naval Service, the programme of works has for the midlife reft and upgrade of the LÉ Róisín has been completed, while works have commenced on LÉ Niamh. The replacement of the flagship LÉ Eithne with a multi-role vessel, MRV, is an important element of the EDP. Marine Advisors have been appointed to support the procurement of the MRV. The possible replacement of other vessels is also under consideration.

The Deputy will be aware that the Government established an independent Commission on the Defence Forces in December 2020. The work of the Commission encompasses the consideration of appropriate military equipment capabilities, structures and staffing, and their report will inform decisions regarding the future development of the Defence Forces.

I am satisfied that the Defence Forces have a modern and effective range of equipment which is line with best international standards, to enable them to meet operational requirements.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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107. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the measures that are currently being undertaken to provide the Defence Forces with the means to adequately patrol the air space controlled by Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3891/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The White Paper on Defence 2015 set out the defence policy framework for a ten year period. The White Paper, in addressing Air Corps capability, provided for the replacement of the Cessnas and Casa 235s fleets.

The Cessnas have now been replaced by three Pilatus PC-12 aircraft in the Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) role providing a substantially increased capability with their state of the art surveilance technology. A further Pilatus PC-12 was also procured arising from the demands of Covid. A contract for the supply of two C295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft to replace the two Casa 235s was signed with Airbus in 2019, with delivery of the aircraft expected in 2023. These C295s are larger and more capable aircfrat than those they replace and will enable the Air Corps to conduct martime patrols and surveillance acros Ireland's area of maritime interest, with enhanced capabilities.

The White Paper also stated that should additional funding become available, the development of a radar surveillance capability for the Air Corps is a priority. Funding for this is not specifically provided in the current resource envelope and any future decisions in this regard will be in the context of priorities having regard to the ongoing security environment and any associated developments. As outlined in the White Paper, the Air Corps's PC 9 aircraft provide a very limited air to air and air to ground capacity. Consideration of a more capable air combat intercept capability falls within the on-going Equipment Development Planning process, having regard to funding and other priorities. However, there are no plans to procure any such aircraft at his point.

Following a commitment given in the Programme for Government a Commission on the Defence Forces was established by Government in December 2020 and their report is expected soon. The Commission's terms of reference included the consideration of appropriate capabilities, structures and staffing for the Defence Forces. Their report will be fully considered when received and will inform decisions regarding the future development of the Defence Forces.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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108. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if funding has been provided to organisations working with former Defence Forces and ex-service personnel; if so, the way the funding is being used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3794/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department formally recognises two Veterans Associations which represent all former personnel. They are Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann (ONE), the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel, and the Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA).

My Department engages on an ongoing basis with these veterans’ organisations and has entered into Service Level Agreements with them. An annual grant is paid to both ONE and IUNVA to assist in their overheads. ONE is currently paid an annual grant of €100,000 and IUNVA is paid an annual grant of €11,000.

As a further means of assistance, my Department has secured total funding of €500,000 under the Dormant Accounts Fund to assist ONE and IUNVA with specific special projects. Almost €300,000 was spent in 2021 while the remainder will be used to fund further special projects in 2022.

On 3rd October 2021, I officially opened ONE's new residential home which can accommodate 5 retired members of the Defence Forces and a Veterans Support Centre in Cobh, Co. Cork. This building was refurbished with funding from the Dormant Accounts Fund.

IUNVA used funding from the Dormant Accounts Fund in 2021 to pay for the development of a new United Nations museum at its headquarters in Mount Temple Road, Dublin 7. Other funding was used to purchase IT equipment for IUNVA posts.

In line with the commitment in the current Programme for Government, my Department continues to facilitate, where possible, the establishment of further ONE Veterans Support Centres (VSCs) around the country. VSCs are available to all veterans to seek support and advice, not just to ONE members.

On 29th November 2021, I officially opened the new building housing the Defence Forces Personnel Support Service and ONE's Veterans Support Centre at Campfield, Collins Barracks, Cork. This project was funded by my Department and replaced a temporary Veterans Support Centre in the Cork Barracks.

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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109. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will report on the progress made in relation to the High-Level Implementation Plan for Strengthening our Defence Forces; when the completed project reports will be shared with Defence Forces representative associations in line with the request from the chairperson of the Defence Forces Conciliation Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3834/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Report of the Public Service Pay Commission (PSPC) on Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces was published on the 4th of July 2019. The Report was accepted in full by the Government at that time and an extensive High Level Plan titled "Strengthening our Defence Forces” was also agreed and published on the same date. The high level plan comprised 15 individual projects most of which have now been completed or at an advanced stage.

In the course of the work on the projects, reports and papers were produced that relate to the identification, examination and consideration of options that inform management deliberations, but do not necessarily in themselves represent final proposals or discussion documents for exchange with the Representative Associations. On that basis, it is not appropriate to provide the Representative associations with access to the contents of reports which are part of ongoing management deliberative processes. My Department will of course, continue to engage with the Representative Associations on all matters that fall within the scope of representation, once Official side proposals are finalised.

By way of an update on the status pf the projects, four of them, relating to pay provided immediate benefits to PDF members totalling some €10m, as well as initiatives that will lead to further improvements. Also completed are projects on enhanced professional military education, bespoke leadership training, development of a mental health and wellbeing strategy, non-pay retention measures, consideration of the provision of additional specialist posts in certain areas, a review of technical pay groups and a review of recruitment processes. The Workforce Planning Project is being progressed through the joint civil/military Strategic Human Resources Group

The Review of Pay Structures project was intended to examine pay structures in the Permanent Defence Force and to fall under the public service pay agreement “Building Momentum”. However, in the intervening period, one of the tasks set for the Commission on the Defence Forces was also to examine pay structures in the Permanent Defence Force. The recommendations of another project dealing with incentivised long service arrangements for certain Officer and NCO ranks, fell to be considered in the context of the sectoral bargaining element of “Building Momentum”.

The project examining Barriers to Extended Participation in the PDF was split into two phases. Phase 1 focussed on reviewing mandatory retirement ages for Officers. A review has been completed by civil and military staff and their Report contains a number of recommendations for extension in service limits. The recommendations require consideration from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, in relation to the implications on costs and pensions.

Phase 2 examined the contracts of service and mandatory retirement ages for enlisted personnel. In December 2021, agreement was secured with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform which will allow for an extension in service limits for all Privates and Corporals to remain in service up to 50 years of age, subject to them meeting certain criteria including medical and fitness standards.

Arrangements were also secured which will allow for Sergeants to continue to serve beyond 50 years of age the details of which will be finalised following further discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Other recommendations in this project will be considered in the forum of an Inter-Departmental Working Group, which the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has established to consider mandatory retirement ages for all public service groups with fast accrual pension arrangements.

Cathal Berry (Kildare South, Independent)
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110. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the position regarding discussions within his Department to enable sergeants who enlisted in the Permanent Defence Forces after 1 January 1994 to continue in service beyond 50-years of age; when an outcome of these discussions is likely; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3899/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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A civil/military review of mandatory retirement ages and service limits of all ranks in the Permanent Defence Force has been conducted. The recommendations arising from the review requires consideration from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, in relation to implications on costs and pensions.

I recently secured an agreement with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform which will allow an extension in service limits for Privates and Corporals, who were recruited to the Permanent Defence Force since 1 January 1994, to remain in service up to 50 years of age, subject to them meeting certain criteria including medical and fitness standards.

In addition, I also secured arrangements that will facilitate the extension of service limits of Sergeants recruited to the Permanent Defence Force since 1994. Details in relation to the proposal for Sergeants will be finalised following further discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. There will also be discussions with PDFORRA, the representative association for enlisted personnel on this matter.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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112. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the engagement the Defence Forces have with the school system in the context of promoting the positive work carried out by the men and women of Óglaigh na hÉireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3866/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The military authorities have advised me that the Defence Forces regularly receive requests from schools for career talks and have themselves begun to actively engage with schools to conduct career talks. These talks generally cover career opportunities available in both the enlisted and commissioned ranks across the three services (Army, Naval Service and Air Corps). Career talks cover the day-to-day work of the Defence Forces to include ATCP (Aid to the Civil Power), ATCA (Aid to the Civil Authority) and Overseas services and duties.

In addition, the Defence Forces Recruitment offices regularly attend events aimed at future career choices for schools such as transition year events and career guidance counsellor conferences.