John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)
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66. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the plans for capital expenditure within his Department under the National Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60321/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The revised National Development Plan Capital allocation for the Defence Vote Group for the period 2026-2030 is €1.7bn. This represents an increase of €600 million (55%) on the previous baseline of €1.1 bn. 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. This expenditure 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, including the priority Military Radar Programme.

Following the conclusion of the process of agreeing overall Departmental allocations, all Departments were requested to consider and outline their NDP 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 and specific details on sectoral investment plans will be published later this year.