Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained and developed.

The Defence Forces Armoured Personnel Carrier fleet consists of 80 vehicles which are in use at home and overseas. Within the fleet of 80 vehicles, there are a number of different types:

• Standard Variant
• Command Variant
• Close Reconnaissance Variant
• Medium Reconnaisance Variant
• Ambulance Variant.

The location and disposition of the APCs overseas cannot be released for operational security reasons.

There has been significant investment in recent years in the fleet of APC’s with the mid-life refit of the MOWAG Piranha III vehicles project nearing completion , at a cost of €95m inclusive of VAT. This upgrade and maintenance programme will extend the utility of the fleet and provide greater levels of force protection, mobility and firepower with the integration of cutting edge technology and equipment into the vehicles.