Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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37. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to provide a full breakdown of the Defence Vote for the most recent available financial year, specifying the total amount spent by the Department of Defence as a civilian administrative body including staff costs, consultancy, accommodation, travel, information technology systems, and all other administrative expenditure; the total amount spent directly on the Defence Forces including pay, equipment, training, fuel, ammunition, and all operational expenditure; the ratio this represents between administrative and operational spending; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17581/26]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Overall provisional expenditure on Vote 36 (Defence) for 2025 was 1.039 billion. Of this, €995 million (96%) related to Programme costs, with €44 million (4%) attributable to the Administrative Costs of the Vote.

Overall current expenditure pay costs of €551 million in 2025 comprised of €519 million in Programme Pay costs and €32 million in Administrative Pay costs.

Non-pay programme expenditure of €254 million, included €242 million in programme costs for essential and ongoing Defence Forces standing and operational costs, along with administrative non-pay costs of €12 million.

Record capital investment of €234 million in 2025, comprised almost entirely of Programme expenditure and provided for the necessary procurement and upgrading of defensive equipment and infrastructure.

Programme funding also provided funding towards Civil Defence and a grant towards the Irish Red Cross Society in 2025.

All aspects of 2025 spending will be subject to scrutiny and audit by the Office of the Comptroller & Auditor-General, in line with the relevant statutory guidelines and timelines.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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38. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the total number of civil servants currently employed in her Defence; the total payroll cost of these civil servants in the most recent financial year; how this compares to the total payroll cost of uniformed Defence Forces personnel at equivalent grades; the current ratio of civil servants to uniformed personnel; how this ratio has changed in each year since 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17582/26]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The current number of civil servants employed by my Department, as of 23rd February 2026 is 499. This number includes 16 civil servants employed to work directly for the Defence Forces at a number of military installations. Among those are 2 at Assistant Secretary grade; the Head of Strategic HR and the Head of Transformation, both of whom are members of the Defence Forces Board.

The current ratio of civil servants to military personnel is approximately 1:16, including those who work exclusively for the Defence Forces. This has changed from a ratio of 1:25 in 2015. The Deputy may wish to note that while civil service grades and military ranks are not equivalent, the salary for the entry positions such as Clerical Officer is just over €31, 000 while for a Three Star Private is over €42,000.

The growth in my Department's staffing in recent years has been necessitated by a number of new responsibilities which have been assigned to the Department and a growth in existing roles. For example, my Department led the transposition of the Critical Entities Resilience Directive known as CER Directive which is part of a European Union-wide effort to increase the resilience of essential services that provide vital societal functions in all Member States. My Department, through its Office of Emergency Planning, is currently developing, with the competent authorities and relevant Government Departments for each sector, a Strategy for the Resilience of Critical Entities. My Department has also recently developed and published the State's first National Maritime Security Strategy to deliver an improved maritime security environment where citizens and Irish interests are protected.

The Department also has engaged in the development of a wide range of new HR policy initiatives for the Defence Forces in response to the recommendations of the Independent Review Group, such as the introduction of an Interim Grievance Manager. A major programme of legislation is also underway to both underpin the culture change in the Defence Forces, as well as the most significant structural changes since the establishment of the Defence Forces.

The Procurement and Acquisitions function has also been expanded to deliver on a major increase in capital provision over the period with provision in 2026 of €300 million, and the record €1.7 billion which has been secured for capital investment in Defence over the next five years, an increase of €600 million, or 55%, on the previous baseline. This has also involved the establishment of a joint civil -military Capability Development Unit to forward plan for the needs of the State in the defence sector in the coming years.

I expect to receive a Civilianisation Strategy from the Defence Forces later this year and I would expect that it will identify a range of functions which will be civilianised, such as HR and finance as recommended by the Commission on the Defence Forces. This will facilitate the release of military personnel to more appropriate duties while providing an injection of expertise in the relevant functions. This is already underway with the recruitment of civil servants for Cyber Command. This approach will see the Defence Forces of the future being a greater mix of civil and military personnel as is common among other militaries across the world.

The table below provides a breakdown of the information requested by the Deputy and includes details of expenditure by my Department in respect of payroll for civil servants and Defence Forces in each of the years 2015 to 2025. The table also provides details of the number of civil servants employed by my Department and strength figures of the Defence Forces in each of the years covered by the Deputy's question.

Please note that total payroll costs include Employers PRSI as reported on the Appropriation Accounts 2015 to 2024 and in progress for 2025. The total payroll costs provided for the Defence Forces relates to Permanent Defence Forces (PDF) personnel including Army Nursing Service and Chaplaincy.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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39. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the total amount spent on external consultancy, advisory services, and contracted professional services by the Department of Defence in each of the years 2020 to 2025 inclusive; the names of the firms engaged; the purpose of each engagement; whether each engagement was subject to competitive tender; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17583/26]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The table below details the total amount spent on external consultancy, advisory services, and contracted professional services by the Department of Defence in each of the years 2020 to 2025 inclusive; the names of the firms engaged and the purpose of each engagement. All engagements were carried out in accordance with public procurement guidelines in relation to the purchase of goods and services.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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40. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to provide a breakdown of defence spending under the following headings for each of the years 2021 to 2025 inclusive: pay and allowances for uniformed personnel; pay and allowances for civilian Department staff; capital equipment procurement; maintenance and repair of existing equipment; fuel and operational costs; training costs; accommodation and barracks maintenance; overseas mission costs; and all other expenditure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17584/26]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The information requested is already publicly available as part of annual Appropriation Account processes. As part of these processes, each department or office is required to prepare an annual account, known as the appropriation account, for each voted service administered by it.

These accounts are a cash-based record of the receipts and payments in the year compared with the amounts provided under the Appropriation Act.

These accounts necessarily include detailed information on administration and programme expenditure across the Defence and Army Pension Votes, all of which are subject, under Section 3 (11) of the Comptroller & Auditor General Act 1993, to audit and presentation to the Dail by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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41. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence what proportion of the overall defence Vote has been spent on barrack accommodation, maintenance, and infrastructure in each of the years 2021 to 2025 inclusive; the current estimated backlog of maintenance works required across Defence Forces installations; the estimated cost of bringing all Defence Forces accommodation up to an acceptable standard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17585/26]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The details sought by the Deputy could not be provided in the time allowed. I have asked my officials to compile this information and provide it to the Deputy as soon as possible.