Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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59. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will report on the capital funding allocated to defence in the National Development Plan for the period 2026 to 2030. [48984/25]

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. For 2026, the Defence capital allocation will increase by €85 million to €300 million.

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.

As Defence capital expenditure is often atypical, with long lead-in times, the funding certainty now provided will support the internal Equipment Development Plan and Infrastructural Development Planning Frameworks.

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.

You will note that following the conclusion of the process of agreeing overall Departmental allocations, all Departments were requested to consider and outline their sectoral priority projects for delivery over the period to 2030.

In that regard, my Department is now prioritising within the revised NDP allocations to meet its sectoral targets and obligations - with specific details on sectoral investment plans to be published later this year.