Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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54. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the current budget he has secured for defence in 2026 under Vote 36; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60413/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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For the Overall Defence Vote Group, budget 2026 sees an increase of €145m (11%) on the corresponding 2025 allocation, an increase which sees the Defence Vote Group increase significantly to €1.49billion in 2026. In relation to the Defence Vote itself (i.e. Vote 36 only) there has been a €157m (15%) increase on the corresponding 2025 allocation, bringing the Vote 36 allocation to €1.17billion in 2026.

For 2026, the key priority remains to progress the transformation of the Defence Forces as enabled by the Strategic Framework, supported by the Commission on the Defence Forces Detailed Implementation Plan. Updated versions of both of these documents are due to be published shortly.

The significant level of funding now provided will facilitate further progress and support the implementation of a range of recommendations and priorities identified in the Commission on the Defence Forces (CODF), the Independent Review Group (IRG) on Dignity & Equality Issues in the Defence Forces and the Defence Policy Review.

The 2026 Vote 36 (Defence) allocation includes an overall pay allocation of €597 million, of which €485 million provides for the pay of an expected year-end PDF strength of up to 8,100, to include the induction of a net additional 400 recruits in 2026.

The non-pay current expenditure allocation on the Defence Vote will increase by €39 million, to €276 million.

As well as providing for essential, ongoing operational costs, this non-pay allocation will also provide targeted funding to facilitate, inter alia,

• an additional €0.5 million to increase the advertising budget to support an enhanced Defence Forces recruitment effort;
• €7.5 million for the full year costs of the Tribunal of Inquiry in 2026 arising from the IRG Report;
• an additional €10 million to support Air Corps fleet maintenance, airfield and training costs;
• €10 million to facilitate payments on the contract for a replacement Defence Forces uniform, which will see improvements in the pattern, fabric and fit for all Defence Forces personnel; and
• additional funding for number of other strategic priorities, encompassing Digital Transformation, Maritime Security and National Societal Preparedness and Resilience Campaign Initiatives.