Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)
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27. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the commitment the Government have given to increase defence spending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37866/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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 committed to increasing the funding allocated to defence to €1.5 billion (at January 2022 prices) by 2028, to be agreed 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 – the largest allocation received to date.

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 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.

The move to LOA2 will require significant organisational changes to include, inter alia, an additional 2,000 personnel (civil and military) over and above the then PDF establishment figure. Work is ongoing on this and the current allocation includes a significant pay provision of €569 million, to inter alia, support ongoing recruitment and retention challenges and provide for the recruitment and training of an additional net 400 recruits. It is enabling key changes to broader conditions that have had a positive impact to 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.

Estimates discussions are now underway, with updated Defence Vote Group allocations set to be published in line with Budget 2026 timelines next October.