Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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594. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the level of funding provided to the permanent structured co-operation initiative, in each of the years 2017 to 2022, respectively; and the proposed funding for 2023. [12941/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland joined the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) in 2017, the establishment of which represents a further development in EU Cooperation in support of international peace and security under CSDP. Under PESCO, Member States come together in different project groups to develop and make available additional capabilities and enablers for peacekeeping and crisis management operations As of 1st March 2023, Ireland is participating in four PESCO projects and has Observer status on ten. The four projects in which we are participating are - (1) Upgrade of Maritime Surveillance; (2) Cyber Threats and Incident Response Information Sharing Platform; (3) Maritime (semi) Autonomous Systems for Mine Countermeasures and (4) Deployable Military Disaster Relief Capability Package.

The ten projects on which we are Observing are – (1) Counter Unmanned Aerial System; (2) Energy Operational Function; (3) EU Military Partnership; (4) EU Radionavigation Solution; (5) European Secure Software Defined Radio; (6) European Union Network of Diving Centres; (7) Future Medium-size Tactical Cargo; (8) Harbour and Maritime Surveillance and Protection; (9) Military Mobility; and (10) SOF Medical Training Centre.

Since joining PESCO in 2017, the only costs of our engagement have been those associated with travel to and attendance at PESCO project planning meetings by Defence Forces' Subject Matter Experts.