Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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588. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if any projects under his remit are on hold due to Capital Funding pressures; if he will indicate the projects, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12622/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The principal demand drivers of Defence capital requirements are the ongoing acquisition, renewal and retention of military equipment along with the development and upgrade of Defence Forces built infrastructure. The importance of this was set out in the 2019 White Paper Update and reinforced in the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces in 2022.

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.

Multi-Annual capital funding allocations are framed by the overarching National Development Plan, with annual allocations negotiated as part of the annual Estimates process. In 2021, a mid term review of the National Development Plan was undertaken and the capital allocation for Defence was increased to €566 million for the period 2022 to 2025.

As part of the Budget Estimates process for 2023, and in line with this Government’s commitment to ensure the implementation of the recommendations of the Commission on the Defence Forces, the Defence capital allocation for 2023 has increased significantly, by €35 million, to €176 million, a 25% increase on 2022, an allocation which represents the single biggest annual capital investment ever provided to Defence.

Many of the Defence Equipment projects are complex, multi-annual and have long lead-in times. The certainty of funding provided by the multi-annual allocations outlined in the National Development Plan enables the Department and the Defence Forces to plan and prioritise a schedule of projects over an its lifetime. This flexibility ensures that, at all times, a range of capital projects as set out in the Equipment Development Plan and the Defence Forces Build Infrastructure Plan are progressing in line with the total capital funding allocated to Defence.