Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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206. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence when a company (details supplied) was appointed to advise on expanding Ireland’s military; the terms of the contract, including the cost and duration of the contract; the way in which the company was identified as the preferred provider of such services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18048/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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. 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 covers high level Defence Forces structures, defence capabilities, organisation, culture and human resources, the Reserve Defence Force and funding.

The Detailed Implementation Plan for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces published in November 2023 builds on the publication of the Commission Report itself in February 2022, the High Level Action Plan in July 2022 and the Early Actions Update published in March 2023. 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 approved by Government. 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 processes.

The Commission on the Defence Forces recommended "The Chief of Defence to initiate an immediate force design process assisted by external experts with access to international military expertise, and to include a detailed force design process. " The reasoning for the requirement for international support is the lack of such experience and expertise in the Defence Forces.

The Defence Forces have established Force Design teams within the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps and an overarching strategic force design office as part of the project under the Detailed Implementation Plan for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces. They also carried out market research to identify support options for the Force Design process. The Defence Forces found the Institute for Security Governance (ISG), an institute which is part of the US Department of Defense, to be the most suitable and appropriate external support option in the context of a joint approach to force design.

ISG specialise in institutional capacity building and have significant expertise and experience in force design and development, and have worked with over 80 nations, including smaller militaries (e.g. Estonia, Bulgaria, Georgia). Solutions are underpinned by best international practice and driven by partner nations.

Ministerial approval was granted in November 2024 to proceed with this work. The Force Design teams are working with the experts in designing a structure for a modern force of Ireland’s size taking into account the Defence Forces roles and the capabilities required to deliver these roles. It should also be noted that the geopolitical environment, which has changed substantially since the Commission on the Defence Forces reported, will also have to be factored into a future force design. This is complicated and challenging work which we need to get right to ensure that we design a modern force which is fit for purpose for future generations.

A 2025 work programme has been agreed which will be progressed throughout the year with a report to be finalised by the end of 2025. This design report will then form part of the implementation phase of the project, which has a timeline of 2026 for the Air Corps and 2027 for the Naval Service and Army.

The contract is for 12 months at a cost of €716,000 and the requirements for the implementation phase will be considered following a review of the design report.