Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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164.To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence for an update in relation to the current operational status of all military vehicles owned by the Naval Service and Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[35320/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Defence Forces operate a fleet of vehicles across the air, land and maritime domains. The day to day maintenance and servicing of the fleet is delegated to the military authorities and as such my Department does not have a direct role in same. I am advised for operational reasons the Defence Forces does not provide detailed information on the status or disposition of the fleet.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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165.To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence for an update on the implementation of the 130 recommendations arising from the Defence Forces high-level action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[35322/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As Minister, I am deeply committed to the transformation of the Defence Forces into a modern fit for purpose organisation to defend the State and meet the challenges of today and the future.

The Commission on the Defence Forces was established on foot of a commitment in the Programme for Government, and its report was published on the 9th of February 2022. There were 69 main recommendations and with sub recommendations there were 130 recommendations in total. 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 covered high-level Defence Forces structures, defence capabilities, organisation, culture and human resources, the Reserve Defence Force and funding.

Given the significant recommendations contained in the Report, detailed consideration of these recommendations was undertaken over a period of 5 months by the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces. Following this engagement, a High Level Action Plan (HLAP) and a Memo for Government were brought to Government and approved on July 12th 2022. This involved the approval of a move to ‘Level of Ambition 2’ (LOA2), as set out in the capability framework devised by the Commission on the Defence Forces. The move to LOA2 is due to be complete by 2028. This will result in the Defence budget rising from €1.1 billion to €1.5 billion, in 2022 prices, by 2028, the largest increase in Defence funding in the history of the State. This will allow for the required substantial transformation and investment in recruitment and equipment that were identified by the Commission.

The Detailed Implementation Plan for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, was published on the 21st of November last. 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 which span:

• Strategic HR and Cultural Change;
• New Command and Control and Joint Structures to be established;
• Services to be reformed and restructured;
• Reserve Defence Force to be revitalised; and
• Joint Capability Development to be implemented

While we are still in the early stages of the transformation process, a number of recommendations that have been implemented to-date have had a significant impact on members of the Defence Forces.

Changes have been made to the existing Naval Service allowances, as a means of simplifying current structures, by consolidating the daily allowance and the sea-going commitment scheme into one enhanced allowance. This is in line with the Commission on Defence Forces recommendation to replace existing sea-going allowances with less complex measures. The sea-going commitment scheme was abolished from the end of 2023.

Specifically, the current Patrol Duty Allowance, paid to Naval Service personnel, will be doubled after ten days at sea. This measure has taken effect from 1 January 2024.

In addition to this, extension of private secondary healthcare to enlisted ranks was implemented in September 2023.

Also, all personnel of Private 3 Star/Able Seaman rank are now paid the full rate of Military Service Allowance (MSA) applicable to the rank, and, the requirement for that cohort to ‘mark time’ for the first three years at that rank has been removed.

However a great deal of work still needs to be done and it will need concerted effort by all involved.

The Detailed Implementation Plan sets out the significant progress that is expected in 2024. By the end of this year it is anticipated that 54 of the Commission's recommendations will be fully implemented, with many more being progressed over the course of the year.

Transformation efforts of this magnitude take time, and can only be successful if they are built on solid foundations. I have confidence that the structures that have been put in place and progress to date will ensure the successful delivery of the transformation effort.

Following the publication of the Report of the Independent Review Group on Dignity and Equality issues in the Defence Forces in March 2023, I set out my priority to develop one Strategic Framework for the transformation of the Defence Forces, so it would be fully understandable to everyone.

The Strategic Framework, which I published in September 2023, brings together into one overarching document, the immediate actions to be taken to support the transformation of the Defence Forces.

My priority within this transformation is cultural change above all else. The end goal of this cultural change is to ensure that the Defence Forces is an equal opportunities employer, reflective of contemporary Irish society and that is providing a safe workplace,

• where self-worth is actively promoted;
• where mutual respect becomes a dominant feature;
• where all members are treated with dignity;
• in an organisation that continuously evolves to deliver positive change.

I am confident and determined that through the Strategic Framework, and the Detailed Implementation Plan, we will realise our shared ambition for the transformation of the Defence Forces accompanied with clear and irrefutable evidence of change on the ground for serving members.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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166.To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence for a full list of capital works projects valued at over €1 million commenced by the Defence Forces in each of the past ten years, in tabular form, including the completion, or anticipated completion date of each capital project; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[35323/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Given the granular nature and long timescale of the information sought by the Deputy, it is not readily available in the timeframe requested. My officials will collate same and I will arrange to have this data provided directly to the Deputy in due course.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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167.To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence for a full list of the value of equipment purchased and procured for the Defence Forces for each of the past five years, by country of origin, of goods and services, and their value, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[35324/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The detailed information sought by the Deputy is not readily available from the Department's financial management systems within the time frame sought.

Officials from my Department will arrange to have this information forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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168.To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence for an update in relation to the progress of the Defence Forces equipment development plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[35325/24]

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. The acquisition, modernisation and upgrade of Defence Forces equipment are considered in the context of the established capability development and Equipment Development Planning (EDP) processes.

This acquisition of military equipment through the utilisation of the Defence Equipment Development Plan is considered through joint civil-military co-operation, and provides a consolidated, structured basis for ongoing investment in military equipment to develop and maintain necessary capabilities.

The rolling Equipment Development Plan encompasses a programme of sustained equipment procurement/acquisition across the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service as identified and prioritised in the Strategic Framework and the Detailed Implementation Plan for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, building on the work done under the White Paper on Defence. This is part of the ambitious programme of work to move to Level of Ambition 2 ( LOA2) by 2028, and will ensure that the Defence Forces have the major equipment platforms, ancillary equipment and force protection equipment required to carry out their important roles both at home and overseas.

The Commission's recommendations for the move to LOA2 includes the recommendation for an accelerated programme of naval vessel replacement, to ensure a balanced fleet of nine modern ships is reached by early in the next decade.

In this regard, Marine Advisors have been appointed to support the procurement of a Multi-Role Vessel (MRV) for the Naval Service. A Prior Information Notice was published in the Official Journal of the European Union in January to advise the market of my Department's intention to run a tender competition to procure an MRV. Work is currently underway that will inform next steps.

Further investment in Naval Service capabilities is ongoing, with the Naming and Commissioning Ceremony for the two Inshore Patrol Vessels, LÉ Aoibhinn and LÉ Gobnait purchased from New Zealand held at the Naval Base, Haulbowline on Wednesday 4th September. 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.

Work on capital investment in aircraft continues, with a contract placed with Airbus at a cost of €59 million excluding 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.

In addition, the competitive process for the purposes of delivering a replacement aircraft for the Ministerial Air Transport Service is well advanced with the restricted Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) stage complete and a number of aircraft manufacturers passed to the Invitation To Tender multi-stage phase which is ongoing at present.

The programme for the supply of two C295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft has been completed, and the aircraft entered into service in 2024. 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.

Projects for the Army are 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. A framework agreement for the supply of a Software Defined Radio system to the Defence Forces has recently been awarded. This complex project has been designed to meet the Defence Forces' requirements and to incorporate systems and equipment platforms, it will support the joint common operational picture.

In addition to these major projects, there is an on-going schedule of capital investment across a broad range of force protection measures, including in General Service Body Armour, a new combat helmet, the procurement of Chemical Biological, Radiological and Nuclear protection suits, and new thermal imaging targeting systems. Investment in transport, communications and information technology, weapons and ammunition systems continues in 2024.

This level of investment in Defence equipment platforms will further boost ongoing efforts at enhancing Defence Forces capabilities across land, sea and air domains. The Department of Defence received a capital allocation of €176 million in Budget 2024, and is set to receive a capital allocation of €215 million for 2025 and €220 million for 2026 following a revision of NDP multi-annual allocations. The Defence allocation is determined within an overarching budgetary framework which encompasses existing NDP multi-annual capital allocations and remains cognisant of the level of resources available, commensurate with Defence policy requirements and allowing for a phased planned programme of sustained equipment development.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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169.To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence for an update in relation to the progress of the Defence Forces built infrastructure programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[35326/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Defence Forces Infrastructure Development Plan (IDP) sets out a programme of project delivery for the years 2023 to 2027. The Programme reflects the complex environment in which the Defence Forces operate and the corresponding need for appropriate infrastructure to provide for accommodation and training of personnel, as well as maintenance and storage of equipment for land, sea and airborne operational requirements.

Since the inception of the Infrastructure Development Plan (IDP) the following projects have been completed:

The Deputy may wish to note that there are currently over €159m worth of IDP projects underway at different stages of development, from design planning and construction.

Projects currently under construction include:

• Upgrade and refurbishment of Block F at McKee Barracks
• McKee Barracks - new Centralised Locker Facility
• Upgrade of two buildings (Block 4 Accommodation and Block 9 Office Block at the Naval Base, Haulbowline)
• Upgrade of former USAC Accommodation Block, Galway
• New CIS Workshop Facility, Defence Forces Training Centre
• New Garaging Facility, Defence Forces Training Centre

• Refurbishment of Block 1 at Collins Barracks
• Aikens Barracks Dining Hall
• ARW New HQ Building
• Various projects to develop the Joint Induction Training Centre in Gormanston Camp
• Gymnasium works at Finner Camp, Casement Aerodrome, Haulbowline Naval Base and Renmore Barracks
• Two new hangars at Casement Aerodrome
• Naval Base dredging works
• Casement Aerodrome Military Medical Facility
• New replacement Hangar for EAS, Custume Barracks