Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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355. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence how the proposed increase in defence capital expenditure under the revised National Development Plan will increase defence and security capability in the Border region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43244/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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.

Defence capital Funding is not provided on a geographic basis, with the limited exception of the funding provided from the Defence Vote for the infrastructural upgrade of military installations.

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.

Many of the Defence Equipment projects are complex, multi-annual and have long lead-in times, so the certainty of capital funding provided now allows the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces to review all its strategic equipment and infrastructural priorities to align with the revised 2026-2030 multi-annual capital allocations.