Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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21. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if consideration is being given to the acquisition or long-term leasing of a dedicated strategic or tactical airlift capability for the Defence Forces, either independently or in partnership with other EU member states; if such consideration includes the C-130 Hercules or the Airbus A400M, or participation in multinational initiatives such as the European Air Transport Command (EATC) or Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34711/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Strategic airlift capability has been prioritised as a capability for investment following Government approval of the Commission on the Defence Forces (CODF) Report as part of the present move to Level Of Ambition (LOA) 2 capability as defined within the CODF Report and subsequent Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP) of the CODF Report.

A contract was awarded in December 2022 to Airbus at a cost of €59 million, excluding VAT, for the provision of a new fixed wing Military Transport Aircraft for the Defence Forces. The aircraft is currently being manufactured in Spain and delivery is expected in September 2025.

The Airbus C-295M military transport variant aircraft is highly versatile and will provide a dedicated asset to support Defence Forces' military airlift transport requirements as well as provide a wide contingent capability. The aircraft will enable the Air Corps to provide a wide range of services including logistics support and transport of troops and equipment, medical evacuation and air ambulance, Special Operations Forces operations and a general utility role.

There is a ‘pooling and sharing’ option through the European multinational initiative known as the European Air Transport Command (EATC). In order to avail of this airlift exchange programme Ireland must contribute a logistical airframe capable of providing common airlift/ freighter flight hours. The forthcoming delivery of the C-295M military transport aircraft would allow Ireland to access this ‘pooling and sharing’ option and utilise hours on larger strategic heavy-lift aircraft in exchange for Ireland contributing to the shared pool by offering partner nations hours on the C-295M military transport aircraft.

Consideration is being given to Ireland joining this initiative, which would provide the State with access to larger strategic airlift platforms should the need arise, and ameliorate the need for the State to purchase a dedicated heavy-lift aircraft, giving the Defence Forces robust access to strategic airlift capabilities when required, but without the associated costs of ownership and operation.