Written answers
Thursday, 21 March 2024
Department of Defence
Defence Forces
Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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25. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the amount allocated under Budget 2024 in relation to the operation of unmanned aerial vehicles; the amount expended in 2023, by quarter; and the purpose of such expenditure. [13157/24]
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)/drones are deployed across several branches of the Defence Forces and are primarily used for reconnaissance and target spotting. These assets have no lethal offensive capabilities.
Drones are also used by the Civil Defence in search, rescue and recovery of missing persons and have proven very capable in the field by enabling inaccessible areas to be searched without any risk to Civil Defence personnel.
Annual expenditure on UAVs/drones for the Department and the Defence Forces comprises of expenditure on equipment purchase (when applicable), training and regulatory expenses, and equipment maintenance and support.
It is estimated that expenditure for 2024 will be in the region of €1 million, which includes provision for support and maintenance of the Orbiter UAV system, and also drone related expenditure for Civil Defence and the Defence Forces.
The table below sets out the quarterly expenditure for 2023 as requested.
| Table 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Quarter | Purpose | Amount | Sub Total |
| Q1 2023 | Civil Defence drone related expenditure | €11,321 | €11,321 |
| Q2 2023 | Naval Service drones spares and maintenance | €3,340 | |
| Civil Defence drone related expenditure | €1,685 | ||
| Orbiter UAV Freight Charges | €471 | €5,496 | |
| Q3 2023 | Naval Service drone equipment | €4,000 | |
| Orbiter UAV Training | €195,000 | ||
| Civil Defence drone related expenditure | €22,030 | €221,030 | |
| Q4 2023 | Naval Service drone purchase & ancillary equipment | €19,794 | |
| Naval Service drone training aids | €4,134 | ||
| Civil Defence drone related expenditure | €47,518 | €71,446 | |
| Total | €309,293 |
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