Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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220. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the amount the Defence Forces spent on purchasing military equipment from Australian companies in each of the years 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [13139/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Defence Forces that no military equipment was purchased from companies based in Australia in the period referred to by the Deputy.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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221. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the budget allocated in 2024 and 2025 for purchasing new horses for the Defence Forces equitation school; and the percentage of the 2024 budget that was actually spent. [13140/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Army Equitation School continues to source Irish bred horses that meet the required standard as judged by the School's Horse Purchase Board. Horses are acquired through either purchase or lease agreement. The Army Equitation School’s budget for the purchase and lease of horses in 2025 is set at €500,000, as it was in 2024. I am satisfied that the current arrangements allow the School to maintain its competitiveness at national and international events, while balancing the need for budgetary prudence.

In 2024, some €475, 000 of the horse purchase budget was spent.