Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

16. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the details of Ireland’s defence spending projections into the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13515/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

On an annual basis, the overall Defence Vote Group allocation is determined within the overarching budgetary framework and approved by Dáil Eireann, having regard to the level of resources available and defence policy requirements. Thus, for 2022, the total gross allocation provided to the Defence Vote Group, as set out in Budget 2022, is €1,107 million, comprising of €836 million for Vote 36 (Defence) and €271 million for Vote 35 (Army Pensions).

Capital funding allocations are also framed by the multi-annual National Development Plan. The White Paper on Defence, updated in 2019, highlighted the importance of capability development and the necessity for continued renewal, upgrade and acquisition of military equipment and infrastructure. To this end, the National Development Plan has allocated multi-annual funding of €566 million to Defence out to 2025, with an allocation of €141 million per annum provided for 2022 and 2023 and €142 million per annum for 2024 and 2025. In recent years, pay savings have also been reallocated for investment in military equipment. With the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, should pay savings arise in the future, the Department will, where possible, reallocate them towards further investment in military equipment and infrastructure. Many of the military equipment projects are complex, multi-annual and have long lead-in times, so the funding certainty now provided by the National Development Plan is welcome, as it will enable the Department and the Defence Forces to plan, prioritise and deliver on scheduled projects over the coming years.

As the Deputy will be aware, the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces was recently published. There is a process underway to consider the many detailed recommendations in that report. This necessarily requires consultation with Ministerial colleagues. The intent is to revert to Government with a proposed response and a high-level action plan in advance of the summer recess. As the Deputy will appreciate, it would be inappropriate for me at this time to pre-empt an ongoing deliberative process.