John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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912. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of female members of the Defence Forces who have left to date in 2022, by month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29661/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The following table details the number of women members of the Permanent Defence Force who have left, by month, to the end of May 2022:

As the Deputy will appreciate, personnel leave the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) for a number of reasons including, on age grounds, at the end of contract and on voluntary discharge.

In that context, I have fully acknowledged the retention issues affecting both Officers and Enlisted Personnel. A range of actions have been taken to address these issues which includes the 15 projects undertaken to facilitate the implementation of the PSPC Report on Recruitment and Retention. Most of these projects have been completed, with others being considered in the context of wider public sector pay arrangements.

Complementing these retention measures, a number of recruitment initiatives are additionally playing a role in countering the current staffing challenges, which include re-entry schemes for former members of the PDF. In addition, in the context of the White Paper on Defence, a specific project examining barriers to the progression of women in the PDF is currently ongoing.

The Deputy will also be aware that the Commission on the Defence Forces report which was published in February 2022 proposes significant changes for the Defence Forces, including in relation to gender policies and gender representation. The report is being fully considered, in consultation with Ministerial colleagues and other stakeholders and I will shortly revert to Government with a proposed response to the Commission's recommendations and a high-level action plan.

With the support of the Chief of Staff, I remain committed to maximising recruitment and retention of both men and women to maintain the capacity of the Defence Forces to operate effectively across all roles and to undertake the tasks laid down by Government, both at home and abroad.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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913. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the current strength of the Reserve Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29662/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Reserve Defence Force (RDF) is comprised of the First Line Reserve, the Army Reserve (AR) and the Naval Service Reserve (NSR). The Government remains absolutely committed to the advancement of the RDF. The White Paper on Defence is quite clear that there is a continued requirement to retain and develop the Reserve and the Government remains fully committed to this.

The strength of the Reserve Defence Force, as of 30 April 2022, is set out below:

The Deputy will be aware that the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, published last February, contains many detailed recommendations, including on the future structure and role of the RDF. 

There is a process underway to consider these recommendations in consultation with Ministerial colleagues and stakeholders. The intent is to revert to Government with a proposed response and a high-level action plan in advance of the summer recess. It would be inappropriate therefore, for me to pre-empt this deliberative process in advance of the Government's consideration.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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914. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of women in the Reserve Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29663/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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It is Government policy to increase female participation rates at all levels of the Defence Forces, including the Reserve Defence Force (RDF), in order to increase capability and to better reflect the society from which the Defence Forces are drawn and serve. As of 30 April 2022, the effective female strength of the RDF is 194 members.

In line with current policies and commitments, a number of initiatives have been implemented to increase the level of female participation in the Defence Forces. For example:

- Special consideration is paid to women as a target group for recruitment within the generalrecruitment framework, including a Female Recruitment Standing Committee reporting on initiatives for 2022, with dedicated female recruitment teams proposed. In addition, a female specific "Always on" (constant targeting of the female demographic) campaign commenced in October 2021. 

- The Defence Forces actively engage with schools to conduct career talks and regularly attendevents aimed at future career choices for schools. 

- A Gender Equality and Diversity Officer has been appointed to promote gender equality policies and training within the Defence Forces. The Defence Forces are committed to gender equality and employ a gender perspective in the planning and execution of operations both at home and overseas and in all policies and regulations. Gender Advisors are available to all Brigades and Services and trained Gender Focal Points are deployed with all overseas units and ships in order to promote a gender perspective in operations. 

- A Defence Forces Women's Network was established with the aim of increasing the participation of female personnel at all levels of the organisation.

Over the lifetime of the White Paper on Defence, a number of projects will be progressed to ensure the development and promotion of strategies that continue to support increased female participation in the Defence Forces.

Initiatives in place to recruit individuals to the Reserve include supports provided to maximise RDF recruitment, including use of social media, promotion through the DF Press Office, outreach activities by RDF members, and the use of PDF exit interviews which contain information on applying to the RDF.  In addition, a number of measures to streamline the recruitment and induction process for the RDF are in train and it is hoped that they will yield a positive outcome.

The Government remains committed to a policy of equal opportunity for men and women throughout the Defence Forces and to the full participation by women in all aspects of Defence Forces activities.

Finally, as the Deputy will be aware, the recently published Report from the Commission on the Defence Forces includes a number of recommendations relating to gender and diversity in the Defence Forces.As the Deputy will appreciate, detailed consideration of all the recommendations is required. This involves significant inter-departmental consultation, and this is continuing. Following this engagement, I intend to return to Government with a proposed response to the Commission’s recommendations and a high-level action plan.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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915. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the strength of the Reserve Defence Forces for the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29664/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Reserve Defence Force (RDF) is comprised of the First Line Reserve (FLR), the Army Reserve (AR) and the Naval Service Reserve (NSR). The combined effective strength of the AR and NSR, at year end, for the past five years is set out below:

The strength of the First Line Reserve, at year end, for the same period is as follows:

While the commitment to restoring the strength of the RDF is not in doubt, the same personnel and resources are utilised for both PDF and RDF recruitment. Given the competing recruitment demands at present, PDF recruitment is, and will remain a priority.  However, RDF recruitment will continue to be progressed to the greatest extent possible.

Heretofore, there was no provision in the Defence Acts to allow RDF personnel to be deployed overseas. However, the Defence (Amendment) Act 2021 has been signed into law, which serves to update the Defence Legislation on the use of the RDF on a voluntary basis, on-island and overseas in support of the Permanent Defence Force.

The Deputy will be aware that the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, published last February, contains many detailed recommendations, including on the future structure and role of the RDF. There is a process underway to consider these recommendations in consultation with Ministerial colleagues and stakeholders. The intent is to revert to Government with a proposed response and a high-level action plan in advance of the summer recess. It would be inappropriate therefore, for me to pre-empt this deliberative process in advance of the Government's consideration.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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916. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the estimated cost of increasing the establishment figure of the Defence Forces by 2,000 to 11,000 personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29665/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The current establishment figure of the Defence Froces is 9,500. The Department does not maintain costings for increasing the strength of the Permanent Defence Force as outlined by the Deputy. This would require detailed consideration of the capability requirements underpinning such an increase and consideration of associated personnel issues, including organisational structures as well as equipment, infrastructure and other additional requirements and associated costs.

It should be noted that consideration of the recommendations of the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces is ongoing. I intend to revert shortly to Government with a proposed response to those recommendations and a high-level action plan, which will set out proposed timelines and oversight arrangements for its implementation.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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917. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the current capital expenditure budget for the Defence Forces for 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29666/22]

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 requirements are the ongoing renewal, retention and acquisition of military equipment along with the development and upgrade 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, a Defence Forces Built Infrastructure Programme sets out the requirements for essential infrastructure development works over a medium term timeframe. These strategic frameworks combine to provide the basis for medium term equipment and infrastructural planning and investment requirements for the Defence Forces.

Capital funding allocations are framed by the annual estimates process and the multi-annual National Development Plan. The total capital allocation for Defence for the period in question is €822.2 million, as outlined in the table below.

Defence Capital Funding Allocation 2022-2025:

Many of the Defence Equipment projects are complex, multi-annual and have long lead-in times. The certainty of funding provided by the National Development Plan has enabled the Department and the Defence Forces to plan, prioritise and deliver scheduled projects.

Among the major Defence Equipment upgrade and replacement programmes set to be prioritised over the coming years are:

- The Land Forces Capability Development and Force Protection Programmes, including an upgrade of the military transport fleet and next generation radio communications and signal equipment;

- The ongoing Naval Service Vessel Renewal and Replacement Programme, which includes the mid-life refit of the P50 Class of Naval Vessel and the progression of the Multi Role Vessel project;

- The ongoing Air Corps Aircraft Renewal and Replacement Programme which includes the purchase of the C295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

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 widespread consultation. 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.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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918. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the capital expenditure for the Defence Forces from 2017 to 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29667/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The principal demand drivers of capital expenditure for the Defence Forces are the ongoing renewal, retention and acquisition of military equipment along with the development and upgrade of Defence Forces built infrastructure.

Capital funding allocations are framed within the overarching multi-annual National Development Plan and provided through Vote 36 (Defence). To this end, Vote 36 (Defence) capital expenditure for the years 2017 to 2022 (YTD) is outlined in the table below.

Vote 36 (Defence) Capital Expenditure 2017 to 2022:

This level of investment has facilitated an ongoing programme of Defence equipment replacement and infrastructural development which aligns with White Paper objectives.

Many of the Defence Forces equipment projects are complex, multi-annual and have long lead-in times. However, internal strategic planning frameworks aligned with the certainty provided from multi-annual funding envelopes have enabled the Department and the Defence Forces to plan, prioritise and deliver on a broad range of capital investment programmes/projects over this timeframe, including, inter alia, the Naval Vessel Renewal and Replacement Programme, the Maritime Patrol Aircraft Programme and the midlife upgrade of the Army's fleet of Mowag armoured personnel carriers.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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919. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the receipts from the sale of Defence Forces property or land from 2015 to 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29668/22]

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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920. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the percentage and monetary amount from the proceeds of the sale of Defence Forces land and or property which has been spent on the defence capital programme from 2015 to 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29669/22]

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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921. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the individual projects in the defence capital programme which have been directly fully or partially funded from the sale of Defence Forces land and or property from 2015 to 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29670/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 919, 920 and 921 together.

In the period in question, 2015-2022, a total of €11.3 million has been received in respect of property sales. Public Financial Procedures require that such receipts are brought to account as Appropriations-in-Aid.

The table below sets out the annual amounts of these receipts.

Defence Property Sales 2015-2022:

Such receipts, where appropriate, are reflected in the Defence capital programme as part of the annual Estimates process. Funding for individual projects is not provided directly from these receipts. All funding for such projects is met from the Defence capital programme. During the eight year period in question, the annual capital allocation in the Defence Vote increased from €66 million in 2015 to €141 million in 2022.

This funding has facilitated the acquisition of military equipment through a comprehensive Equipment Development Programme, which provides a consolidated, structured basis for investment in military equipment to maintain and develop necessary capabilities. Similarly, through a strategic Defence Forces Built Infrastructure Programme, this funding also supports the requirements for essential infrastructure development works over a medium term timeframe., Among the equipment programmes advanced by this funding are the Naval Vessel Renewal and Replacement Programme, the Maritime Patrol Aircraft Programme and the the midlife upgrade of the Army's fleet of Mowag armoured personnel carriers.