Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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128.To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of females currently in the Army and Air Corps at the rank of second lieutenant and above; and the number of females currently in the Naval Service at the rank of ensign and above, in tabular form. [31411/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The military authorities have provided the following table which details the number of females in the Permanent Defence Force, in the requested ranks broken down by Branch and rank, as at 30 June 2024. The total number of female members of the Permanent Defence Force stands at 556 as of this date, while the number of females in the requested ranks totals 167 personnel.

The Government remains committed to increasing female participation rates at all levels of the Defence Forces in order to increase capability and to better reflect the society from which the Defence Forces are drawn and serve.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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129.To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number and type of accommodation units provided by his Department for Defence Forces use; the total number and type of accommodation units available to the Defence Forces; his targets in relation to increasing the provision of accommodation units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31469/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Military Authorities that Single Living-In and Multi-Occupancy accommodation is provided for operations and training purposes. As such the occupancy levels across the Defence Forces changes frequently due to training and operational requirements.

Given the granular nature of the information requested in the first part of the question, it could not be collated in the time frame given and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy when available.

To address the second part of the Deputy's question, the projects being progressed by my Department aimed at increasing the provision of accommodation units for Defence Forces personnel are set out below:

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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130.To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of medical personnel in the Defence Forces, by role, rank and cost, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31517/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It has not been possible to collate the required information in the time allowed to respond. I will respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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131.To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the funding provided to an organisation (details supplied) in the years 2019 to 2023, and to date in 2024, by year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31518/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Defence provides an annual grant to the Irish Red Cross Society, which is a contribution towards the salary and administration costs of running the Society’s headquarters. The annual grant also includes the Government’s annual contribution to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The funding provided, over the years from 2019 to date in 2024, is as follows:

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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132.To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the estimated annualised average projected capital expenditure required to attain level of ambition 2 of the Commission on the Defence Forces by the years 2030, 2032 and 2035; the Government’s target for attaining Level of Ambition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31519/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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In July 2022, Government approved the move to ‘Level of Ambition 2’ (LOA2), as set out in the capability framework devised by the Commission on the Defence Forces. This provides for a rise in the Defence budget to €1.5 billion, in 2022 prices, by 2028, as part of annual Estimates processes.

This level of funding increase would allow for the required substantial transformation and investment in recruitment and equipment that were identified by the Commission. It encompasses both current and capital investment, and is supported by a comprehensive programme of work, currently underway throughout the Department and the Defence Forces, as outlined and prioritised in the Strategic Framework and the Detailed Implementation Plan for the Commission Report.

Capital investment in Defence is primarily directed at providing sufficient military capabilities, across land, air, maritime and cyber domains, to meet specific roles assigned to the Defence Forces. In the main, this investment is for the acquisition of defensive equipment and the construction or upgrade of Defence Forces built infrastructure. The availability of comprehensive, internal capital planning frameworks, in the form of the Equipment Development Plan (EDP) for Defence Forces equipment acquisitions and the Infrastructural Development Plan (IDP) for Defence Forces infrastructural projects, along with the establishment of a joint Civil-Military Capability Development Branch are key enablers within Defence capital planning processes.

There are no capital investment projections for 2030, 2032 or 2035 outlined in the Commission Report. However, following on from the publication of revised multi-annual capital allocations in the National Development Plan (NDP), the Defence capital allocation will rise from its 2024 level of €176 million to €215 million in 2025 and €220 million in 2026. This level of increase represents an increase of €78 million (55%) in capital funding on the corresponding 2022 allocation of €142 million, and will bring the Defence capital allocation to its highest ever level in 2026.

This level of capital investment will ensure that the Defence Forces can continue to undertake the roles assigned by Government, both at home and overseas, while also progressing the transformation of the Defence Forces in line with the Strategic Framework and the objectives and timeframes set out in the Detailed Implementation Plan for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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133.To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the amount allocated to equipment upgrade and replacement programmes in the years 2019 to 2024; and the amount projected each year until 2030, by year and by programme, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31520/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Capital investment in Defence is primarily directed at providing sufficient military capabilities, across land, air, maritime and cyber domains, to meet specific roles assigned to the Defence Forces. In the main, this investment is utilised for the acquisition of defensive equipment and the construction or upgrade of Defence Forces built infrastructure. It enables the Defence Forces to undertake the roles assigned by Government, while also enabling the transformation of the Defence Forces in line with the objectives and timeframes set out in the Detailed Implementation Plan for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces.

Defence equipment capital expenditure projects are often atypical, with long lead-in times and usually pursued over a multi-annual timeframe. In that regard, the availability of a strong internal planning framework in the form of the Equipment Development Plan (EDP) ensures that all projects are managed carefully and remain cognisant of funding availability, equipment priorities and timing considerations. In addition, the recent establishment of a joint Capability Development Branch further strengthens internal Defence Equipment planning capacity.

Excluding Defence Forces built infrastructure, Civil Defence and Departmental capital costs, the table below outlines capital expenditure on Defence Forces equipment replacement and upgrades over the years from 2019 to 2024 (YTD):

Capital Expenditure on Defence Equipment 2019 – 2024

Under the recently revised National Development Plan (NDP), the Defence capital allocation, including for built infrastructure, will rise from its 2024 level of €176 million to €215 million in 2025 and €220 million in 2026, a level of increase which will bring the Defence allocation to its highest ever level. This funding will be distributed across the relevant capital expenditure subheads as part of the 2025 and 2026 Estimates processes.

Capital allocations for 2027 onwards have not yet been determined, and will be based on the overall amount of capital funding available and considered within the prevailing annual Estimates cycle. In that regard, Defence will be proactively engaging with DPENDPDR at the earliest opportunity to ensure the positive spending position outlined above is maintained to 2030 and beyond.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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134.To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the cost associated with Irish participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions in each of the years 2019 to 2023 and to date 2024, by mission; the time funds may have been received from the United Nations in relation to these missions, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31521/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As of 01 July 2024, Ireland is contributing 441 Defence Forces personnel to overseas missions and locations, which reflects the Government's continued commitment to our responsibilities in the area of international peace and security. The main mission in which personnel are currently deployed is the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 356 personnel.

Information relating to the cost associated with Irish participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions in the years 2019 to 2023, as well as the funds received by the United Nations, is set out in the table below. Verified amounts are not yet available in respect of 2024.

The details below relate to the following United Nations Peacekeeping Missions:

• UNIFIL - United Nations Interim Force Lebanon
• UNDOF - United Nations Disengagement Observer Force
• UNTSO - United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation
• MINUSMA - United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali
• MINURSO - United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara
• MONUSCO - United Nations Observer Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

  Year		UNIFIL	UNDOF	UNTSO	MINUSMA	MINURSO	MONUSCO
  		€000s	€000s	€000s	€000s	€000s	€000s
  2019	DF Participation Costs	36,283	11,273	1,232	360	302	357
  	UN Reimbursement	11,000	3,900	-	-	-	-
  2020	DF Participation Costs	31,235	12,581	1,121	1,456	205	257
  	UN Reimbursement	9,400	3,800	-	-	-	-
  2021	DF Participation Costs	32,084	13,088	1,219	1,708	105	340
  	UN Reimbursement	8,900	3,800	-	100	-	-
  2022	DF Participation Costs	33,672	12,758	1,515	1,295	1	326
  	UN Reimbursement	9,600	4,300	-	100	-	-
  2023	DF Participation Costs	31,484 (unaudited)	12,680 (unaudited)	1,417 (unaudited)	113 (unaudited)	-	-
  	UN Reimbursement	9,100	5,000	-	100	-	-

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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135.To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the funding allocated to veteran's associations in each of the years 2019 to 2023 and to date in 2024, by funding mechanism, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31528/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides support to two recognised Veterans Associations. These Veterans Associations, which represent all former personnel, are óglaigh Náisiúnta na héireann (ONE) / the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel, and the Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA).

My Department engages on an ongoing basis with these Veterans Associations and with the Association of Retired Commissioned Officers (ARCO), and has entered into Service Level Agreements with ONE and IUNVA under which an annual grant is paid to both organisations in order to assist with their administrative overheads. As a further means of assistance, since 2021 my Department has also secured total funding of €900,000 under the Dormant Accounts Fund to assist ONE and IUNVA with specific special projects.

Details of total financial supports provided to the relevant Veterans Associations in the period 2019 to 2023, and funds currently allocated for 2024, including funding under the Dormant Accounts Fund, are set out below:

* The figures for both ONE and IUNVA for 2024 include Dormant Accounts funding which has been carried over from previous years.

Additionally, in line with the commitment in the current Programme for Government to "support the establishment of centres for members of the Defence Forces", my Department continues to facilitate, where possible, the establishment of further ONE Veterans Support Centres and INUVA Posts around the country.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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136.To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the expected number of discharges from the Defence Forces in each of the years 2024 to 2030, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31529/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The military authorities have advised that based on the information available to them as at July 12 2024, the following table details projected mandatory retirements on age grounds, the only discharges that can be accurately predicted into the future, from 2024 to 2030.

These projections take account of the recent increase in mandatory retirement age to 60. It should be noted that a further increase in mandatory retirement age, to 62, will take place following the enactment of relevant legislation.

I have previously acknowledged the current staffing challenges in the Defence Forces, and work is ongoing to counter these. A range of recruitment measures, along with financial and non-financial retention incentives which include significant progress on pay and allowances, have been implemented to address such challenges.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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137.To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the cost of providing a member of the Defence Forces with a full medical examination. [31530/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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A wide range of medical services are provided free of charge to members of the Permanent Defence Force, including an annual medical examination.

I am informed by the military authorities that the associated cost to the organisation of providing a full medical examination to an individual member of the Defence Forces would cover a diverse range of factors, including:

• Salary costs for the relevant medical personnel, including the examining Medical Officer as well as ancillary staff such as nurses and medics, which will vary dependant on rank;
• Activities associated with the medical examination itself, including phlebotomy, laboratory tests and administration;
• Miscellaneous costs, including IT services, equipment maintenance, electricity and other consumables;
• The cost of outsourcing in cases where the examination is performed by external medical staff.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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138.To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the cost of the Commission on the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31531/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Commission on the Defence Forces was established on foot of a commitment in the Programme for Government and the Government decision in December 2020 which also agreed its terms of reference and membership. The report was published on the 9th February 2022.

The Commission undertook a significant body of work, encompassing wide-ranging terms of reference. It recommended significant changes for the Defence Forces and Defence provision in Ireland. It covers high level Defence Forces structures, defence capabilities, organisation, culture and human resources, the Reserve Defence Force and funding.

Total expenditure for the Commission on the Defence Forces was €469,200.

The Detailed Implementation Plan for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces published in November 2023 builds on the publication of the Commission Report itself in February 2022, the High Level Action Plan in July 2022 and the Early Actions Update published in March 2023. This plan sets out an ambitious programme of work to move to 'Level of Ambition 2' (LOA 2) by 2028 and the significant and fundamental change for the Defence Forces that will be delivered across the Commission's recommendations approved by Government.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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139.To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the funding for the Reserve Defence Forces in each of the years 2019 to 2023 and to date in 2024, by subheading or purpose, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31532/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The provisions for pay and allowances for both the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) and the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) are set out in Defence Force Regulation S.3 and RDF pay rates are linked with the PDF rates of pay. In addition, the Reserve Defence Force Representative Association (RDFRA) currently receives an annual subvention of over €62,000 from my Department, in addition to the provision of office accommodation. The budget for the RDF is currently €2.350m of which some €47,000 is allocated to First Line Reserve Pay and Gratuities and a further €2,303,000.00 is allocated to Second Line Pay and Allowances.

As evidenced in the table below, the overall spend has increased year on year since 2019 with the exception of 2020 where the budget was revised down to 1,650,000.00due to the impact of Covid-19 restrictions on the uptake of training activities. The expenditure on allowances has also gone significantly over budget on occasion over the past five years.

Given the steady upward trend in the number of training days being completed by RDF personnel, an increase in the budget was sought last year.

Following the establishment of the Office of Reserve Affairs (ORA), improvements have been made to streamlining the pathway from recruitment to attestation in the RDF. This has resulted in a substantial increase in inductions so far this year. The increase in inductions is also leading to an increase in training days completed and, therefore, expenditure. The budget was originally based on the provision of seven daysannual paid training for all effective members of the Reserve, fourteen days paid training for all additional personnel recruited to the Reserve and provided for career and specialist courses for selected members of the Reserve in line with Reserve priorities.

The ultimate goal for me as Minister for Defence, is the development of a Reserve Force that can seamlessly train, operate and deploy on a voluntary basis, with the Permanent Defence Force, both nationally and overseas.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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140.To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the establishment figure of the Reserve Defence Forces; the current number; the number which applied in the years 2019 to date; the numbers inducted in the years 2019 to date, by branch and by year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31535/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The establishment versus the strength of the Army Reserve (AR) and Naval Service Reserve (NSR) as of 30 June 2024:

The number which applied and the numbers inducted in the years 2019 to date:

*NOTE: This table is devised on a calendar basis for annual totals. Hence, the figure of 66 total inductions has been reported for 2023 where 1 extra induction for 2023 occurred in early 2024. Similarly, the latest induction statistics from the most recent competition are 182. This competition began in October 2023 and hence the difference with the total of 154 cited in the table for 2024. The table contains figures correct as on 30 Jun 2024 whereas the figures below are to 19 Jul 2024.

The Government remains committed to bolstering the numbers in the Reserve Defence Force (RDF).

The structure and strength of the RDF is a key focus of the Defence Forces Office of Reserve Affairs (ORA) which was established in line with a recommendation from the Commission on the Defence Forces Report (CoDF). The immediate focus of this Office has been on the development of a Regeneration Plan, in addition to focusing on general recruitment into the RDF.

Since the launch of the most recent RDF recruitment campaign last October, which remains open, there are currently 772 live RDF applications proceeding through the system, with over 548 interviews concluded; 515 fitness tests and 337 part 1 medicals completed; 274 follow-on part 2 medicals completed; and 182 applicants already attested this year of which 161 are AR and 21 NSR. This points to the positive gains being made following the establishment of the (ORA). A target of 200 new recruits per year had been set by the Chief of Staff. By 2028, the aim is to have increased the NSR to an establishment of 400 personnel and develop an Air Corps Reserve with an establishment of 200 personnel. The AR will be considered in the context of ongoing work by the Army Force Design Office.

These aims and intentions are outlined in the RDF Regeneration and Development Plan which will be launched on 24 July 2024. This plan, which addresses one of the recommendations in the Report from the Commission on the Defence Forces, contains a number of actions concerning the recruitment, resourcing and bolstering of the RDF.

The ultimate goal for me as Minister for Defence, is the development of a Reserve Force that can seamlessly train, operate and deploy on a voluntary basis, with the Permanent Defence Force, both nationally and overseas.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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141.To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the establishment figure of the Defence Forces; the current number; the number which applied in the years 2019 to date; the numbers inducted in the years 2019 to date, by branch and by year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31536/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The military authorities advise that, as at 30 June 2024, the strength of the Permanent Defence Forces stood at 7,399 personnel. The agreed establishment strength was recently increased by 100 to 9,600 to account for the first cohort of Commission on the Defence Forces (CODF) appointments.

The tables below, provided by the military authorities, details the number of applications (Table 1) and inductions (Table 2) to the Permanent Defence Force by Branch and year from 2019 to 30 June 2024, the latest date such figures are available for.

Table 1

Table 2

Reasons for the high attrition rates within the recruitment process include a percentage of applicants who submit their applications but do not engage with the process thereafter, or do not present at the various stages of the induction process. Also applicants can be ineligible, be unable to achieve security clearance, or fail at the various stages of the recruitment process.

Additionally, a number of 2023 and 2024 applicants are at various stages of the recruitment process and it should be noted that applications made in one year may not complete the recruitment process within the same calendar year.

I have fully acknowledged the current staffing challenges in the Defence Forces, and work is ongoing to counter these. A range of recruitment measures, along with financial and non-financial retention incentives which include significant progress on pay and allowances, have been implemented to address such challenges.