Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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30. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the total funding allocated to his Department for current and capital expenditure from 2023 and 2024; the total expenditure incurred under each heading each year; the progress achieved in improving accommodation for permanent Defence Force members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6100/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government sets out the Government's commitment to making significant investment in the defence sector over the coming years, and this builds on the already considerable investment made in recent years. In that regard, the expenditure outturn for 2023 was €208 m in capital and €697 m in current. The provisional 2024 outturns stand at €187 m and €744 million in capital and current expenditure respectively.

Turning to this year, the total allocation for the Defence Sector is €1.35 billion which is an overall increase of €100 million on 2024.

This level of funding will enable the Defence Forces to deliver effectively on all its key domestic and international responsibilities, enhance our national and international security capability and facilitate progression on the structural and cultural transformation of the Defence Forces, as outlined in the Defence Strategic Framework.

Turning specifically to investment in accommodation, this forms part of the wider Defence Forces Infrastructure Development Plan (IDP). The IDP sets out a programme of anticipated project delivery based on the achievement of the high-level goals as set out in White Paper 2015. 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, maintenance and storage of equipment for land, sea and airborne operational requirements.

The Plan, which was launched in 2020 and was agreed at the Brigade Level, is reviewed annually to determine key built infrastructure goals on a rolling five-year basis. Accommodation projects completed in 2024 and being progressed this year amount to a further investment of some €68m.

In terms of developments for this year, the Deputy may wish to note that some of milestone projects this year include:

• The commencement of the development of a Military Medical Facility at Casement Aerodrome,
• new modular accommodation block at Casement Aerodrome
• The completion of the Block 4 accommodation block in Haulbowline.
• the refurbishment of Block 1 Accommodation in Collins Barracks, Cork.