Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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573. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the steps that his Department is taking to increase the State’s capacity to intercept unidentified aircraft in the Irish flight information region. [33966/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The IAA exercises Air Traffic Control responsibilities for an airspace of some 450,000 sq. kms comprising of both sovereign airspace and also airspace over the high seas, largely off the western seaboard. All air traffic, both civil and military, is monitored and controlled by the IAA in respect of this airspace and in line with international rules.

The Air Corps is not tasked or equipped to monitor and communicate with aircraft overflying Irish airspace, military or otherwise and irrespective of whether the transponder is switched on or not. However, on a routine basis the Air Corps monitors and communicates with foreign military aircraft where such aircraft are flying in the airspace in the vicinity of Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, where air traffic control is provided by the Defence Forces. The PC9 aircraft currently operated by the Air Corps have limited intercept capability.

It remains Government policy, as per the 2015 White Paper on Defence, that should additional funding, beyond that provided for in existing plans, become available the development of a radar surveillance capability for the Air Corps, will be considered. The White Paper did not reference the development of an intercept capability for the Air Corps.

The Deputy will be aware that the Government established an independent Commission on the Defence Forces in December 2020. The Commission was established on foot of a commitment in the Programme for Government, and I, as Minister for Defence, welcomed the publication of the report of the Commission on 9th February last. It recommends significant changes for the Defence Forces and Defence provision in Ireland. It covers high level Defence Forces structures, defence capabilities, organisation, culture and human resources, the Reserve Defence Force and funding.

The Commission in its report envisages that should the Defence Forces at some stage in the future move to the highest level of ambition, LOA 3, then very significant enhancement of Air Corps capabilities will be required. This would include the development of an air combat and intercept capability through the acquisition of a squadron of jet combat aircraft.

Given the significant recommendations contained in the Report, detailed consideration of these recommendations has been undertaken over the last four months by my Department and the Defence Forces. This has involved significant inter-departmental consultation, and I and my officials have engaged with key stakeholders to ascertain their views. Following this engagement, I intend to return to Government with a proposed response to the Commission’s recommendations and a high-level action plan before the summer recess.