Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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238. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if progress has been made in restoring the training officer arrangements that existed between the Irish Defence Forces Cadet School at the Curragh Camp and the Navy of Malta; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38888/25]

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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239. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on the benefits for the Irish Defence Forces and international reputation of the country arising from cooperation between individual national defence forces (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38889/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I fully support the practice of cooperation between the Defence Forces and other international armed forces in the training space, where deemed appropriate by senior military leadership and where resources allow.

First and foremost, such cooperation enables the Defence Forces to develop our own personnel and maintain the capabilities necessary to enable them to fulfil the roles laid down by Government. In this regard, I am advised that the Defence Forces undertake a range of international training each year, which is a vital element of the building up of their capabilities and interoperability, and they will continue to avail of these opportunities going forward.

With regard to members of foreign militaries availing of training and education opportunities with the Defence Forces, I am advised that this is occasionally considered and approved, subject to existing capacity constraints. For example, there has been an ongoing and mutually beneficial relationship between the Irish Defence Forces and the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) since 2009, during which time Maltese personnel trained alongside Irish Cadets. As part of the Defence Forces’ review and consolidation of operations and training procedures, a decision was taken to centralise training resources at the Cadet School. Consequently, the Defence Forces are no longer in a position to continue the arrangement involving cadet-level training.

Notwithstanding that decision, which applies solely to the Cadet School, the positive and long-standing relationship between the Defence Forces and the AFM is fully recognised. Reflecting that ongoing relationship, the Defence Forces have offered places to AFM personnel on a number of less resource-intensive courses, including the Land Component Staff Course, the Joint Command and Staff Course, and various Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) courses. These opportunities allow for the continuation of the cooperative relationship while supporting alternative areas of professional military development for AFM personnel.

The Defence Forces will continue to facilitate such international cooperation, where deemed appropriate and where resources allow, while maintaining an ongoing focus on the essential training of our own personnel.

Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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240. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if suitable qualified civilians can apply to join Defence Forces School of Music; and if not, if all positions within school are reserved for Permanent Defence Force personnel. [39146/25]

Charles Ward (Donegal, 100% Redress Party)
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251. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if suitable qualified civilian personnel can apply to join the Defence Forces school of music; if not, if all posts within the school of music are reserved for sworn members of the Permanent Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39668/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 240 and 251 together.

The military authorities have advised that most personnel within the Defence Forces School of Music, commissioned and non-commissioned, are recruited through direct entry competitions open to all.

Defence Forces School of Music Instrumentalists are selected following a recruitment process that includes an audition and interview and each stage must be cleared. The successful candidates are enlisted as recruits.

Defence Forces School of Music Conductors are selected in a similar fashion. If successful, they must meet all entry requirements to the Permanent Defence Force. Both serving personnel of the Permanent Defence Force and civilians can apply for these positions. The successful candidates are commissioned at the rank of Captain on their first day of service.

General service Permanent Defence Force personnel may transfer from their unit to the Defence Forces School of Music as Instrumentalists following a similar audition and interview process to those undertaken by direct entrants. This is done on a case by case basis.

There are four positions within Defence Forces School of Music Head Quarters which may be held by line personnel (soldiers who are non-Instrumentalists) and these comprise a Bagpipes Instructor Company Sergeant, a Pipes Drumming Instructor Sergeant, an Orderly Room Sergeant and a Storeman/Driver Private.

Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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241. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the current total personnel headcount of the Defence Forces; the total number of personnel who served overseas since 2024; and the total who have completed an overseas trip between 2024 and 2025. [39297/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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It has not been possible to provide a response within the time frame available. I will respond to the Deputy when information is to hand.

Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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242. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he would consider offering members of the Reserve Defence Forces full time contracts to expedite PDF recruitment to achieve the Commission on the Defence Force's stated target of 11,500 personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39298/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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RDF members engage in activities in support of Permanent Defence Forces (PDF) on a voluntary basis, when it is in the best interests of the PDF to do so. There are no plans to amend this practice.

Any individual that wishes to join the PDF, and who meets the qualifying criteria can apply for a position in the PDF. All competitions for entry into the PDF are advertised on the Defence Forces website www.military.ie, as they arise.

Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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243. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence for a breakdown of the initial estimated costs of each project listed in the Defence Forces Infrastructure Plan 2022-2027, and the actual cost of each completed project to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39299/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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My Department is compiling the data requested by the Deputy and I will arrange to have same forwarded as soon as  it is available. 

Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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244. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence for a breakdown on his department's investment in housing and accommodation for the Defence Forces. [39300/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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It has been a long standing policy, in line with other public sector employers, to discontinue the historic provision of tied housing to serving personnel.  Single living-in accommodation is provided for transient operational and training use and by its nature it is not designed for long stay accommodation.

The allocation of such accommodation is decided locally by the military authorities pursuant to the provisions of Defence Forces Regulation Q6 (Public Quarters).  

I can advise the Deputy that since the launch of the Infrastructure Development Plan in January 2020, the following accommodation projects at a combined cost of approximately €49.7m have been completed and provided 775 beds:

•Casement Aerodrome Modular Accommodation

•Gormanston Camp – Upgrade Block A

•Haulbowline Refurbishment of Block 4

•Upgrade of Former USAC Building, Renmore

•New Accommodation Block Collins Barracks

•Gormanston Camp- Upgrade Block B

•Refurbishment of Block C, Stephen’s Barracks

•Refurbishment of Block H, McKee Barracks

•Refurbishment of Block 8, Haulbowline

•Refurbishment of Blocks B and D of Pearse Barracks

•Refurbishment of Plunkett Block 7, DFTC

•Refurbishment of Blocks 1 & 2 Cathal Brugha

•Refurbishment of Apprentice Hostel, Casement Aerodrome

The Deputy may also wish to note that the following accommodation projects are being progressed and will provide additional accommodation:

•Refurbishment of Block 1, Collins Barracks

•Refurbishment of Old Communications Building, Haulbowline

•Refurbishment of Cadet Mess Building Haulbowline

•Gormanston Camp – New Accommodation Block

•Refurbishment of Blocks A, B, D, E & F, Stephens Barracks

•Cathal Brugha Barracks – Refurbishment of C House

•DFTC, Provision of New Student Accommodation

•DFTC, Refurbishment of Ceannt Block 1

•Casement Aerodrome New Accommodation

A further €12.5m is being provided to the Defence Forces on a fully delegated basis for the purposes of maintenance of the current building stock.

Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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245. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of actions recommended by the Commission on the Defence Forces which have been fully completed and implemented to date. [39301/25]

Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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246. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the climate and environmental measures the Defence Forces has undertaken to reduce their carbon emissions in line with the Climate Action Plan; what related investment has been made to reduce emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39302/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Defence Forces has put in place a clear strategy for meeting its decarbonisation targets. The Defence Forces has published its Climate Action Roadmap, and is currently preparing a Climate and Defence Strategy as part of commitments arising from the EU Strategic Compass.

Top level management in the DF are actively engaged with achieving CO2 reductions for the organisation. The Defence Forces has its own structure, called the Senior Energy Executive, which provides oversight from senior management and strategic level decision makers, down to the operational level with individual unit Energy Management Teams.

In 2024 the Defence Forces completed the following projects as part of meeting its targets:

* 22 solar Photo Voltaic (PV) systems installed on DF buildings with capacity of 2.6MWp.

* Roll-out of Electric Vehicle (EV) Charger stations in 6 DF Locations, with further locations due to come online in 2025.

* Roll-out of utility sub-metering system across DF.

* Implementation of Unit Carbon Fuel Budgets in 1 Bde, with system due to be rolled out across DF in 2025.

* Publishing of the 2024 DF Energy Register, providing updated guidance on implementation of the DF EnMS.

* DF currently on target to meet the 50% improvement in energy performance target as mandated by the SEAI.

* Short-listed for SEAI energy Awards Public Sector category.

The DF received formal ISO50001 certification in 2012, the first military in the world to do so, and has maintained this certification ever since.

All new buildings or major retrofits have electric heating systems specified as standard, and are completed to NZEB standard where possible. All major retrofits have had Air Source Heat Pumps specified for their heating systems, though some still required smaller auxiliary gas boilers to be fitted as part of the M&E requirements of the building. Significant deep retrofits have been undertaken as part of the DF Infrastructural Development plan.

The Defence Forces are subject to an exemption from EU Directive 2019/1161 as a military organisation. However, the Transport Corps' capital spend has had a 16% allocation dedicated to the procurement of electric vehicles, with ICE vehicles only being procured for operational tasks.

Energy efficiency and decarbonisation are prioritised agendas in the Defence Forces. As a public body, the Defence Forces are required by government to report their energy performance annually and is implementing plans to achieve a 7% year on year reduction in CO2 emissions. Through improvements in efficiency, the installation of Renewable Energy Source (RES) projects, the upgrading and retrofit of electrified heating systems and the roll out of EV road transport, the DF is committed to becoming exemplars and leaders in this area.

The Defence Forces is committed to embracing Green Public procurement as part of their business practices, and continues to work towards full implementation of the Climate Action Mandate.

Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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247. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence for a breakdown, by rank, of the strength of the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps, in tabular form, as of the end of May 2025. [39303/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The military authorities have provided the following strength figures outlined in the table below for the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) and for the Army, Naval Service (NS) and Air Corps (AC) respectively as at 31 May 2025.

Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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248. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the current status regarding the procurement of Defence Forces uniforms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39304/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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In April 2025, a prior information notice was published on the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) in accordance with EU procurement regulations, announcing the intention to launch a procurement competition for the supply of a new combat uniform system, and tender documentation is being prepared by the Defence Forces in this regard.

Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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249. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence for a breakdown of the established strength and current strength of both the Army and Naval Service Reserve, by rank, in tabular form, as of the end of May 2025. [39305/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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It has not been possible to provide a response within the time frame available. I will respond to the Deputy when the information requested is to hand.