Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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369. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence what increase in operational spending will take place in the context of the €1.7 billion increase in capital spending to ensure that the terms and conditions of military personnel and the crisis and recruitment and retention are addressed in line with capital investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43623/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The revised NDP Capital allocation for the Defence Vote Group for the period 2026-2030 is €1,700 million. This represents an increase of €600 million (55%) on the previous baseline of €1,100 million.

The revised capital allocations will assist ongoing efforts at modernising and upgrading Defence equipment and built infrastructure platforms, and will enable targeted progression on key elements of Government commitments within LOA 2 (Enhanced Capability) objectives, as outlined in the Commission on the Defence Forces Report. Capital Investment in Defence primarily provides for the renewal, retention and acquisition of major defence equipment and infrastructural platforms – expenditure which enhances and supports military capabilities and therefore contributes to a more secure and resilient society.

The Government approved a move to Level of Ambition 2 (LOA2), as recommended by the Commission on the Defence Forces in July, 2022. As part of that decision, the Government remains committed to increasing the funding allocated to defence to €1.5 billion (at January 2022 prices) by 2028, through the annual Estimates process. To date, this has delivered a funding increase of €243 million (22%) to the Defence Vote Group since the Government approved the Commission Report, with Budget 2025 providing an overall funding allocation of €1.35 billion to the Defence Vote Group.

This allocation includes a significant provision to support ongoing recruitment and retention challenges and provides for the recruitment and training of an additional net 400 recruits.

Other key changes to broader conditions that have had a positive impact include the extension of private medical care to all personnel; increases to mandatory retirement ages and recruitment ages, and earlier this year, the removal of the blanket exemption from the Organisation of the Working Time Act.

Following the recent publication of the Summer Economic Statement, Budget 2026 negotiations are set to commence shortly, and, building on recent increases, my Department will be engaging fully with this process to ensure that Defence continues to have the operational capabilities in place to deliver on its defence responsibilities and international commitments over the coming years.