Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The 2024 Revised Estimates Volume (REV) provides an allocation of €933 million for the Defence Vote, an allocation which maintains Defence capital funding at its highest ever level of €176 million. The principal demand drivers of Defence capital requirements are the ongoing acquisition and renewal of military equipment, along with the development and upgrade of Defence Forces built infrastructure and ICT capacity. These capital projects are often atypical, with long lead-in times and are usually pursued over a multi-annual timeframe.

In that regard, the significant level of capital funding now available to Defence is welcome as it will further enable progress on an extensive pipeline of projects identified as necessary to support the transformation of the Defence Forces in line with the objectives and timeframes outlined in the Defence Strategic Framework and Detailed Implementation Plan.

Equipment and Infrastructural priorities for the Defence Forces are considered in the context of the established Equipment Development Plan (EDP) and Infrastructure Development Plan (IDP) frameworks operating within my Department. These planning frameworks remain fully cognisant of overarching Public Spending Code/Infrastructure Guidelines.

At the end of Quarter 1, 7.7%, (€13.6 million) of the capital funding allocation has been spent. While this figure is somewhat behind profile, the expectation is that the capital funding allocation will be fully expended by year-end.

In line with established public financial procedures and internal governance arrangements, my Department continually monitors capital expenditure as the year progresses, and as part of this process, supplies monthly reports and updates to the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery & Reform.