Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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313. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question Number 275 of 3 February 2022, if he will provide details on the essential CBRN platforms and ancillaries that have been funded to maintain CBRN capability from 2019 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7135/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Under the Framework for Major Emergency Management the Defence Forces can be tasked in aid of Civil Power to provide operational support in a response to a national chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) incident in order to mark, cordon, monitor, measure, decontaminate, retrieve and dispose of any CBRN devices and matter so found. Additionally, the Defence Forces in the context of overseas deployments may be required to operate in CBRN environments.

As outlined in PQ 5642/22 there was no direct expenditure in 2019, 2020 and in 2021 on CBRN suits. The amended table of expenditure covering years 2019 to 2021 in the sum of €605,001.15 (as tabulated below) has been spent on essential CBRN platforms and ancillaries during that period in order to maintain CBRN capability. The expenditure covers such items as consumables, filters, spare parts, decontamination lotion and servicing necessary to maintain ongoing CBRN platforms.

Specific details of the essential CBRN platforms and ancillaries are subject to normal operational security reporting restrictions and are not disclosed for operational security reasons.

Table 1 – CBRN Support Expenditure