Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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191. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason his Department has initiated tender-related processes (details supplied) calling for unmanned aircraft systems for search and rescue that can be adapted to strike targets; to outline the strike capability being called for; the use to which it is contemplated such drones are to be put; the reason(s) such UAMS must comply with all NATO integration standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17728/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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A key priority for me as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the capabilities of the Defence Forces are maintained, developed and enhanced in order to ensure that the Defence Forces can carry out all of the roles assigned to it by Government.

Equipment priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are considered in the context of the established capability development and Equipment Development Planning (EDP) processes. The Defence Forces have an existing unmanned air system (UAS) capability which is reaching its end of life shortly, and in view of this market research is being conducted to assist in the procurement of a replacement capability. To that end and in compliance with EU public procurement procedures, a Prior Information Notice was published in March 2025 to alert the market of the planned procurement and for market research purposes.

Defence Forces equipment and standards are specified to meet NATO standards for interoperability, and as a military benchmarking exercise. Access to NATO training and standards, through participation in Partnership for Peace, has proved invaluable in the development of Defence Forces capabilities for increasingly complex and challenging crisis management operations.

It is expected that the replacement systems will provide a versatile ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) capability for Defence Forces training and operations on island and overseas. This planned procurement remains at market research stage and no decisions have been made on the final capability requirements for the replacement systems.

Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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192. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the progress made to date in respect of the key recommendations set out in the Independent Review Group into the Defence Forces Report 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18007/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Significant progress has been made since the publication of the Report of the Independent Review Group (IRG) to examine dignity and equality issues in the Defence Forces. The progress to date includes:

• An External Oversight Body of the Defence Forces was established in April 2023, initially on a non-statutory basis. The Body was established on a statutory basis from 1 December 2024.
• A Tribunal of Inquiry was established by Statutory Instrument on 20 June 2024, (S.I. 304 of 2024), to examine the effectiveness of the complaints processes in the Defence Forces concerning workplace issues relating to discrimination, bullying, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual misconduct.
• The Tribunal also have the power to investigate the response to complaints made regarding the use of hazardous chemicals within Air Corps’ headquarters at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel.
• The introduction of an independent, external Grievance System that will deal with complaints of an interpersonal nature from serving members of the Defence Forces. The new process is now available to serving members of the Defence Forces for an initial 12 months trial basis. A review of the process at that stage will inform the primary legislation required to establish a suitable complaints process for serving members of the Defence Forces on a statutory basis.
• Amendments to the Defence Act 1954 provide that the Garda Síochána will have sole jurisdiction within the State to investigate alleged sexual offences committed by persons subject to military law.
• The Defence Forces has developed mandatory Sexual Ethics and Responsible Relationship (SERR) workshops in cooperation with UCC. These workshops are mandatory for all personnel to attend.
• With the assistance of an external legal firm, extensive work is underway to ensure that the Defence Forces are compatible with the provisions of the relevant equality legislation.
• The proposal of the Working Group established to develop a complaints process for civilian employees and civil servants working who work with the Defence Forces has been accepted and is being progressed.

Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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193. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he has considered the introduction of service commitment schemes to retain key specialist functions within the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17825/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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My Department currently has one service commitment scheme in place in respect of the Air Corps pilots and these matters are always kept under review.

In the last 18 months, my Department has focussed on ensuring that existing recruitment and retention frameworks are fully optimised and responsive to the needs of the Defence Forces while at the same time introducing a number of new initiatives in this space.

Policy measures aimed at increasing both recruitment and retention have been implemented. A civilian Head of Strategic HR has been appointed in the Defence Forces, with the aim of achieving a modernised HR function. Improvements to the overall benefits package have been introduced, such as:-

• the extension of private secondary health care to enlisted ranks;
• the restructuring of the Patrol Duty Allowance (PDA) paid to the Naval Service to encourage sea-going activities;
• Technical pay 2 - 6 review and the removal of 'mark time' and introduction of full rate of Military Service Allowance for Private 3 star rank resulting in increased pay for newly enlisted personnel.
• Removal of the blanket exemption from the Organisation of Working Time Act.

Tony McCormack (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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194. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will outline the Government's plans to modernise the equipment and infrastructure of the Defence Forces; the investment being allocated to ensure operational readiness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17651/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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. This will ensure that the Defence Forces are enabled to carry out the roles assigned by Government.

In response to the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, the Government approved a move to ‘Level of Ambition 2’ (LOA2) by 2028, as set out in the capability framework devised by the Commission. This will result in the Defence budget rising from €1.1 billion to €1.5 billion, in 2022 prices, by 2028, as part of the annual Estimates process.

In that regard, the Defence Vote Group has been provided with a funding allocation of €1,350 million in Budget 2025. This represents a €100 million (8%) increase on the corresponding 2024 allocation and a €243 million (22%) increase since 2022.

Beyond this timeframe, the Programme for Government signals an intention to continue to increase investment in Defence, providing the funding and political support necessary to achieve Level of Ambition 2 Enhanced Capability, and move as quickly as possible to Level of Ambition 3 with commensurate investment as appropriate. As part of that process, officials from my Department will shortly commence engagement with Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery & Reform officials on Estimates 2026 matters, and are currently actively engaging on the review of the National Development Plan, which is due to be completed in July 2025.

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

The rolling equipment 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.

The Programme for Government commits to moving as quickly as possible to Level of Ambition 3 (LOA 3), which was described in the Commission on the Defence Forces as “full spectrum defence capabilities to protect Ireland and its people to an extent comparable to similar sized countries in Europe.”

The civil/military staffed Capability Development Unit, established in 2023 in response to a recommendation in the Commission on the Defence Forces to implement a top down Capability Development Planning Process, is currently preparing a Capability Development Programme, that will identify and cost, at a high level, the Capability requirements for the Defence Forces, taking account of strategic planning parameters including Level of ambition. This ongoing piece of work will inform further work and analysis needed in terms of personnel and infrastructure requirements for LOA. 3. This is a crucial body of work, that will be progressed in a phased manner. In the interim the priority continues to be progressing to LOA 2, which will provide the foundations necessary for the step up to LOA 3.

One specific initiative, which was recommended by the Commission on the Defence Forces, is the development of a Primary Radar capability, to ensure that Ireland can maintain a complete ‘Recognised Air Picture’ and that this should be an immediate and top priority. On foot of this recommendation, my Department is now exploring options for delivery of a suite of military radar capabilities, with a view to full delivery of all elements by the end of 2028.

In terms of infrastructural investment, the Defence Forces Infrastructure Development Plan (IDP) sets out a programme of project delivery for the years 2023 to 2027. The Plan is iterative in nature thus ensuring that it remains relevant and that investment is targeted where most needed.

The updated Plan estimated infrastructure requirements to be in the region of some €359m for the coming years. At the end of 2024 there were over €230m worth of projects underway at different stages of development. This level of expenditure will continue to increase as the Programme is implemented.

The capital allocation for building works in military installations and barracks across the country for the last five years was some €170m. This year the capital allocation stands at €50m for capital investment with a further €12.5m allocation for ongoing maintenance and running costs.

In order to further progress development of Defence Forces infrastructure more quickly and to increase economies of scale, a series of masterplans for each installation will be developed to future-proof for 20-30 years. This approach will identify from the outset the infrastructure requirements in line with capability development for each installation with an associated prioritisation of projects and a phased timeline for delivery.

These plans will dovetail with developments identified under the current infrastructure plan, and will also layout requirements for the years from 2027 onwards. The first masterplan for the airside in Casement Airbase, Baldonnel was completed in February 2025.