Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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155. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence what help is offered to those returning from overseas service to cope with any trauma, mental health issues or unforeseen experiences that those serving may have had to serve through; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44402/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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l am advised that Defence Forces personnel on overseas tours of duty are debriefed before repatriation and informed of the supports available to them should they experience issues upon return home. Personnel are also examined by a military medical officer prior to repatriation and may raise any concerns at that examination.

In the event of further care being required, personnel have access to a range of mental health services which are provided to serving members of the Permanent Defence Force.

Medical mental health services available to personnel include access to clinical psychology and psychiatry services. The psychology service assesses, diagnoses, treats and advises on strategies to prevent mental health disorders, while psychiatry services specialise in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of mental illness. There are currently two Clinical Psychologists and one dedicated civilian consultant psychiatrist engaged by the Defence Forces.

In addition to these clinical supports, non-medical mental health services are provided by the Defence Forces Personnel Support Service (PSS). The PSS provides a welfare, information, psycho-social support and referral service to serving members of the Defence Forces and their families. This service sustains and enhances the individual well-being of personnel, and promotes a safe and positive work culture, in order to support the effectiveness of the Defence Forces.

The service is delivered through a network of military Barrack Personnel Support Service Officers and civilian Occupational Social Workers. This network of professionals is prepared to provide immediate help to service personnel and their families in a routine environment or at a time of crisis. This assistance can range from the simple provision of information to counselling or, if required, signposting and referral to specialist help and assistance.

I am advised that the PSS briefs Units and personnel going overseas on stress management and awareness. It trains overseas teams in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) and conducts Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) when required. Furthermore, the assistance provided may include providing psychosocial support, counselling and information services on a variety of issues, including relationships, general finances, addiction, retirement (including pensions and gratuities), housing, taxation and PRSI, and much more.

In addition, my Department funds a confidential counselling, referral and support service for serving members of the Defence Forces, civilian employees and Civil Defence volunteers. The service provides confidential counselling on a wide range of personal and work related issues, including but not limited to health, relationships, addictions, financial, bereavement, stress, conflict, critical incident and trauma. A Freephone confidential helpline is available on a 24/7 basis 365 days a year. The helpline provides for referral to appointment-based telephone or face-to-face counselling.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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156. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the plans he or his Department have for the Curragh military camp; what investment is being planned for the camp; the timelines for such investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44403/24]

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 following capital works in the DFTC, (Curragh Camp, Kildare) are completed or nearing completion at a total investment of almost €35m:

• Upgrade of Accommodation at Plunkett Barracks- Completed 2020
• Ammunition storage – Completed 2020
• New Electric Target Range- Completed 2021
• Engineer Stores- Completed 2022
• Cadet School – Completed 2023
• Engineers Logistics Office - Completed 2023
• New Vehicle Garaging – Coolmoney Camp – Completed 2024
• New Transport Storage Facility x 2 - Estimated Completion early 2025
• CIS Corps Workshop and Stores- Estimated Completion 2026

• New Army Ranger Wing HQ Block – Expected completion 2027
• Refurbishment of 1 Accommodation Block Ceannt Barracks – Estimated completion 2027
• Military College Auditorium Suite – Estimated completion 2027
• LED External Street Lighting Conversion – Estimated completion 2025
• Military Medical Facility and Medical School Upgrade – Estimated completion 2027
• New Bonded Warehouse Building – Estimated completion 2027
• New Student Accommodation Facility – Estimated completion 2028
• West Side Locker Facility – Estimated completion 2028

Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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157. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 46 of 23 October 2024, with regard to the Curragh, County Kildare, and to the Curragh Rangers being tasked with litter removal on the Curragh plain, if he can clarify why there is a private firm engaged to clear litter from the Curragh plain; and the cost of same. [44560/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Land Staff team, among other duties, carry out tidying of roadsides by regular litter picking along the verges which they convey to bins in their work yard. An external firm is contracted to remove waste stemming from illegal encampments and fly-tipping. To date in 2024 (as at 10th October) the total cost, including VAT, spent with the contracted service provider for the removal of illegally dumped waste is €185,945.

Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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158. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 46 of 23 October 2024, to detail the enforcement measures for any breaches of the Curragh by-laws referenced, in tabular form.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44561/24]

Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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159. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence how many illegal encampments the Curragh Rangers have engaged with and reported for the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive, in tabular form. [44562/24]

Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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161. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to detail the enforcement measures for any breaches of the Curragh by-laws referenced in Parliamentary Question No. 46 of 23 October 2024, in tabular form. [44564/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 158, 159 and 161 together.

The Curragh of Kildare bye-laws date from 1964 and detail the enforcement measures available in the event of a breach of same, to which I refer the Deputy for further details.

Given the range of matters covered in this legislation, it is not possible to provide general information on the total reported number of infringements. While some information is captured on specific issues, in this regard, the data requested by the Deputy is not collated in the manner requested. However, the data requested on illegal encampments can be provided and is presented below in the table.

The number of Illegal Encampments reported to the Department by Land Staff Team is set out in the table.

Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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160. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence how many encroachments by horses from outside the Curragh area, that is, Curragh racecourse and other associated permitted areas, have been reported in the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive, in tabular form. [44563/24]

Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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162. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will provide a detailed list of every animal type, whether livestock, equine-sporting or domestic, currently authorised to be exercised on the Curragh Plain, County Kildare. [44565/24]

Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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163. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to set out the process or method used to obtain authorisation to exercise animals, including horses, on the Curragh Plains; if the said authorisation is subject to renewal; and, if so, the timeline set out for renewal. [44566/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 160, 162 and 163 together.

The grazing of sheep is permitted on the green and blue lands of the Curragh Plains subject to the owners of those sheep being able to prove they have an entitlement to use the grazing rights, either by virtue of their ownership of specific land parcels as specified in Schedule 1 of the original 1870 Curragh of Kildare Act, or that they have permission from one such land owner to make use of proven grazing rights for a current year. I am advised that the current available number of sheep claims is 5,997.

Other than those lands officially authorised, by agreement with the Minister for Defence, for the training and racing of thoroughbred horses (i.e. The Curragh Racecourse and Gallops), no other animals are permitted to be exercised, in accordance with the Curragh of Kildare Bye Laws, 1964. As such, the only animals permitted to exercise on Curragh lands are thoroughbred race horses. All of those horses must be registered with Horse Racing Ireland (HRI). The Curragh Racecourse Limited (CRL) operates and manages the training grounds on the racecourse and other gallops around the Curragh green lands.

Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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164. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if Irish peacekeepers have recorded any violations of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, UNSCR 1701, by all parties involved in the conflict in Lebanon over the past four weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44676/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Over the last four weeks the Deputy will be aware of the challenging and difficult operational environment Irish peacekeepers face in UNIFIL.

In order to implement its mandate as defined by the UN Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006), UNIFIL carries out a range of operations across its Area of Operations between the Litani river in the north and the Blue Line (Line of Withdrawal of the Israel Defense Forces) in the south. These include day and night-time patrols, establishment of observation points, monitoring of the Blue Line, and carrying out clearance of unexploded ordnances and cluster munitions.

IRISHPOLBATT is tasked with permanently monitoring the Blue Line from its forward posts UNPs 6-50 (Polish) and 6-52 (Irish). IRISHPOLBATT headquarters is at Camp Shamrock near AT TIRI at UNP 2-45.

Due to the current security situation there have been some limitations on operational activities being carried out by Irish peacekeepers. However the presence of Irish peacekeepers in theatre has allowed them to continue to monitor and report, in an accurate and timely manner, any violations of UNSCR 1701 by all parties involved in the conflict.

The reporting of violations of UNSCR 1701 form part of UNIFIL HQ reports and these are submitted quarterly by the UNIFIL Force Commander to UN HQ in New York.

Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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165. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the progress being made with refurbishment works at the Curragh Camp; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44677/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The following capital works for the DFTC are included in the Infrastructure Development Plan and are at various stages of the procurement pipeline at a total value of €57m:

• New Transport Storage Facility x 2 - Estimated Completion early 2025
• CIS Corps Workshop and Stores- Estimated Completion 2026
• New Army Ranger Wing HQ Block – Expected completion 2027
• Refurbishment of 1 Accommodation Block Ceannt Barracks – Estimated completion 2027
• Military College Auditorium Suite – Estimated completion 2027
• LED External Street Lighting Conversion – Estimated completion 2025
• Military Medical Facility and Medical School Upgrade – Estimated completion 2027
• New Bonded Warehouse Building – Estimated completion 2027
• New Student Accommodation Facility – Estimated completion 2028
• West Side Locker Facility – Estimated completion 2028

• Ammunition storage – Completed 2020
• Upgrade of Accommodation at Plunkett Barracks- Completed 2020
• New Electric Target Range- Completed 2021
• Engineer Stores- Completed 2022
• Cadet School – Completed 2023
• Engineers Logistics Office - Completed 2023

Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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166. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence what steps are being taken to enhance the role of the Reserve Defence Force in Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44691/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Reserve Defence Force (RDF) is organised on a regional basis, in 28 individual locations, existing as sub-units of parent Permanent Defence Force (PDF) units, with the Defence Forces Headquarters and the Defence Forces Training Camp (DFTC) residing in Kildare.

The RDF currently make a significant contribution to our national defence capability. For example the military authorities estimate that, up to the end of September 2024, 43% of DFTC Army Reserve activity has been in direct support of PDF operations and training. This is in line with the 2021 amendment to the Defence Act, providing for RDF personnel to deploy on a voluntary basis in support of the PDF nationally and overseas, when it is in the best interests of the PDF to do so. This meaningful deployment is significantly contributing to the retention of personnel and complimenting recruiting efforts in the regeneration of the numbers of reservists within the DFTC.

At the end of October 2024, 239 new Reservists (218 Army Reserve and 21 Naval Service Reserve) have been attested, compared with 66 personnel inducted in 2023. The reserve elements in the DFTC have made significant gains in this regard with 17 personnel attested and a further 15 undergoing pre-attestation recruit training.

In line with a recommendation of the Commission on the Defence Forces (CoDF) pertaining to the Reserve, the Office of the Reserve Affairs (ORA) was established in 2022, along with the full time appointment of a Director in that Office at the rank of Colonel, to oversee and support a holistic approach to the revitalisation of the RDF. This Office is based in the Defence Forces Training Centre, (DFTC) in the Curragh Camp, Co. Kildare. The ORA is staffed by a joint PDF and RDF staff who support the day to day running of the RDF while concurrently staffing the operationalisation of the recommendations of the CoDF as laid down in the Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP).

The RDF Regeneration and Development Plan, published by the Office of Reserve Affairs in July 2024, coordinates 27 individual actions designed to create a force of well trained, well equipped and highly motivated Reservists. The overall strategic objective of this plan is to ‘create a reserve force that can seamlessly train, operate and deploy with the PDF nationally and internationally’.

Despite being in a very early implementation phase, it is clear that the initiatives contained with the RDF Regeneration and Development Plan are generating some positive change. This momentum is on a positive trajectory towards a regenerated, trained and capable RDF to support the PDF.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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167. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the capital works carried going at Defence Forces headquarters; when each of those capital works projects will be completed; and the capital works projects at Defence Forces headquarters that will commence in 2025, in tabular form. [44848/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Defence Forces headquarters are jointly situated in McKee and the Curragh barracks; whilst also having HQ offices in Baldonnel Aerodrome, Haulbowline and Newbridge (DFHQ and Department of Defence). Please find a list of capital works projects either ongoing in 2024 or due to commence in 2025.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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168. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of vacancies, by rank, currently in the Defence Forces School of Music; and the estimated timeframe in which each of those vacancies will be filled, in tabular form. [44849/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The military authorities have provided the requested details, in the table below, in relation to vacancies in the Defence Forces School of Music. Figures are as at 30 October 2024:

Vacancies will be filled in line with promotional arrangements and by recruitment. A conductor was inducted into the Permanent Defence Force in July 2024. Any further recruitment will be considered as required.