Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The number of commissioned officers promoted in the Army Reserve and Naval Reserve, by rank, from 1 January 2022 to 30 June 2023, is as follows:

The Deputy will be aware, as part of a Regeneration Plan, the structure and strength of the RDF is a key focus of the Office of Reserve Affairs (ORA), which was established recently in line with a recommendation from the Commission on the Defence Forces Report (CODF).

I want to reassure the Deputy that the Government remains committed to the advancement of the RDF.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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59. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the current annual training capacity for the Defence Forces; how many new entrants were trained in each year since 2016, broken down by service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34635/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the military authorities that it was not possible to provide the required information within the timeframe available. I shall provide the information to the Deputy once it becomes available.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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60. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the current establishment strength of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34636/23]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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61. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence how many personnel left the Defence Forces in each year since 2016, in tabular form, broken down by officers and other ranks; how many have left in 2023 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34637/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 60 and 61 together.

The table below details the number of personnel, broken down by officers and enlisted personnel, that discharged from the Permanent Defence Force each year since 2016 and as at 31st May in 2023:

*As of the 31 May 2023

The term 'discharges' encompasses personnel who left for a variety of reasons including on age grounds, at end of contract and voluntary discharges and also includes a number of trainees who exited prior to completion of their initial training.

The established strength of the Defence Forces is 9,500 personnel and the current strength, as of 31st May 2023, stood at 7,764 personnel. Ongoing staffing challenges in the Defence Forces have been acknowledged. In that regard, my immediate focus is now on stabilising the numbers of personnel in the Defence Forces and thereafter increasing strength to meet the agreed level of ambition arising from the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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62. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of housing units available within the Defence Forces; the capacity of the existing housing quarters; how many are unoccupied; how many are deemed unsuitable; how many will be renovated in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34638/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the Permanent Defence Force provides a significant level of Single Living Accommodation for serving personnel, where this accommodation is required by personnel for training and operational duties. There are in excess of 4,500 places currently within all the military installations.

In addition I am advised that there are in total some 134 dwellings within the Defence Forces portfolio. As the management of same is carried out by the local military authorities, I will forward on further details relating to levels of occupancy when available. The Deputy may also wish to note that I have instructed the Defence Forces to carry out an assessment of the vacant housing stock to ascertain their suitability to a return to modern single living in accommodation usage for serving personnel. I am advised that my officials together with the Defence Forces are currently developing proposals to inform the procurement process for same. Accordingly , I am not currently in a position to state when such premises, if found suitable, will be available.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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63. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the current allowances for security and other defence duties; the value of each; when those were last increased; the value of the increase; the number of recipients of each, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34639/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Department's Finance Branch that, given the considerable number of allowances that exist in the Defence Forces (which is is published and routinely updated on military.ie, and is available at the following link: Current Competitions - Defence Forces (military.ie)), that it will not possible to collate the required information within the time-frame available.

My officials are working on compiling this information and I shall provide the information to the Deputy as soon as it becomes available.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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64. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence what plans for procurement of new equipment and capabilities are in place for 2023; if he will outline the plan for the purchase of new ships over the coming years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34640/23]

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. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government. Equipment priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are considered in the context of the established capability development and Equipment Development Planning (EDP) processes. Further additions to the EDP are currently under consideration, including in the context of the Government’s decision to move to a higher level of ambition, known as LOA2, and in light of specific recommendations, associated with a move to LOA2, made in the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces last year.

Projects for the Army are being considered in the context of capability development and available funding against the backdrop of the overall Equipment Development Plan process. There has been significant investment in recent years in the armoured fleet of vehicles with the enhancement of force protection and mobility with the mid-life refit of the MOWAG Piranha III vehicles project nearing completion and the delivery of Armoured Utility Vehicles. These projects have seen the integration of cutting edge technology and equipment into the vehicles. Technology is an enabler of modern military forces and a Software Defined Radio Project which is the next generation communications system for the Defence Forces is currently in the marketplace. This complex project is being designed and customised to meet the Defence Forces' requirements and to incorporate systems and equipment platforms, it will support the joint common operational picture.

The programme for the supply of two C295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft is nearing completion with the recent delivery of the first aircraft on 27 June and the second aircraft is due later in the year. Projects for other Air Corps capabilities will be considered in the context of overall capability development and available funding in accordance with the planning processes.

Work on capital investment in aircraft continues with the recent placing of a contract with Airbus at a cost of €72 million, including VAT, for a military transport aircraft for the Defence Forces. The Airbus C295W aircraft is highly versatile and will provide a dedicated asset to support the Defence Forces military airlift transport requirements and provide a wide contingent capability. The aircraft will enable the Air Corps to provide a wide range of services including logistics support and transport of troops and equipment, medical evacuation and air ambulance, Special Operations Forces operations and a general utility role. Delivery of this aircraft is expected in 2025.

With regard to Naval Service projects, marine advisors have been appointed by my Department to support the procurement of a Multi-Role Vessel (MRV) to replace the now decommissioned former flagship LÉ Eithne. This work is underway and will inform a public tender competition, in line with the Public Spending Code, in due course.

The two Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPVs), purchased from the New Zealand government last year to replace the now decommissioned LÉ Orla and LÉ Ciara, were transported to Ireland following a year long project to regenerate and modify the vessels. Following their arrival in Cork, the IPVs are undergoing a comprehensive programme of works including crew familiarisation and training. They will become fully operational when all of these targets are met and as soon as possible. Projects for other Naval Service capabilities will be considered in the context of overall capability development and available funding in accordance with established planning processes.

The Department of Defence has received a capital allocation under the National Development Plan of €566 million over the 2022 to 2025 timeframe. This level of capital funding will allow the Defence Organisation to undertake a phased planned programme of sustained equipment and infrastructural development across the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service as identified and prioritised in the Defence White Paper and the Report of the Commission, while building on the significant investment programme over recent years.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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65. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if work has commenced on the procurement of primary and coastal radar; if he will outline his plans for same; the projected budget for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34641/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The development of a primary radar capability was one of the key recommendations made in last year's report of the Commission on the Defence Forces. One of the Early Actions identified in the subsequent High Level Action Plan published in response to the Commission’s report, was to commence planning for military radar capabilities, which includes ground based, maritime and primary radar systems. In response to that, a project team, comprising senior civil and military personnel, was established and this year’s increased capital allocation for Defence includes funding to explore the development of this capability. Work carried out to date includes identification of requirements and research into various delivery options, as well as consideration of approaches internationally. This has included a visit to Cyprus to learn from our EU colleagues and work is ongoing.

Development of military radar capabilities is a key priority for me as Tánaiste and Minister for Defence and I am determined to ensure delivery within the earliest practicable timeframe.