Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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21. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the total cost to the State of the procurement of the Dassault Falcon 6X aircraft, including the purchase price, all ancillary costs associated with the transaction, delivery costs, any taxes applicable, crew training costs, modification or fit-out costs, ongoing maintenance contract costs, hangarage and infrastructure costs, and any other expenditure associated with the acquisition of this aircraft; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17553/26]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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22. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the procurement process followed in the acquisition of the Dassault Falcon 6X aircraft; whether an open competitive tender process was conducted; if not, the legal basis under which the procurement was conducted without competitive tender; whether a value for money assessment was conducted and by whom; whether the Office of Government Procurement was involved in the process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17554/26]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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23. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the projected annual operating cost of the Dassault Falcon 6X aircraft including fuel, crew salaries, maintenance, insurance, and all ancillary costs; how this compares to the annual operating cost of the aircraft it replaces or supplements in the Air Corps fleet; the primary operational purpose for which the aircraft was procured; whether this procurement was identified in the Commission on the Defence Forces report as a priority capability requirement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17555/26]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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24. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence whether the decision to procure the Dassault Falcon 6X was subject to approval by the Government; the date on which such approval was granted; whether any independent military assessment was conducted concluding this aircraft type best met the operational requirements of the Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17556/26]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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25. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence whether the Government considers the passenger capacity of 14 persons on the Dassault Falcon 6X to be operationally appropriate for the stated defence and security purposes for which the aircraft was procured; whether a needs assessment was conducted that identified a requirement for an aircraft of this specific passenger configuration; whether alternative aircraft with greater passenger or cargo capacity were considered during the procurement process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17561/26]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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26. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to outline in full the operational requirements criteria that were established prior to the procurement of the Dassault Falcon 6X; who authored these criteria; whether the criteria were drafted by uniformed Defence Forces personnel, civilian Department staff, or external consultants; whether the criteria were reviewed and approved by the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces prior to the procurement decision being made; whether the 14-person passenger capacity was specifically identified as meeting a stated military or defence operational requirement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17562/26]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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28. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to explain to the Dáil the operational defence justification for the procurement of an aircraft with a 14-person passenger capacity at a time when the Naval Service cannot fully crew its existing fleet, reservists are reportedly purchasing their own equipment, and the Department's own National Maritime Security Strategy 2026-2030 acknowledges critical gaps in maritime surveillance capability; and whether she considers this procurement to represent the correct prioritisation of scarce defence capital. [17564/26]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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29. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence whether the operational requirements criteria that led to the procurement of the Dassault Falcon 6X have been published or are available under Freedom of Information; whether any alternative aircraft types were assessed against these criteria and if so, which types were considered and the reasons they were rejected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17565/26]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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30. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence whether the 14-person passenger capacity of the Dassault Falcon 6X represents a reduction, increase, or equivalence relative to the passenger capacity of the aircraft it replaces or supplements in the Air Corps fleet; whether this capacity was identified as a specific operational requirement by the Defence Forces Chief of Staff; whether any scenario planning was conducted to assess whether a 14-seat configuration would be adequate for Defence Forces evacuation, humanitarian, or operational deployment missions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17566/26]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29 and 30 together.

My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government. Equipment priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are considered in the context of the established capability development and Equipment Development Planning (EDP) processes.

The capital funding of €1.7 billion allocated to Defence in the latest National Development Plan covering the period 2026 to 2030 represents an increase of €600 million on the previous baseline of €1.1 billion. The revised capital allocations will enable targeted progression on key elements of Government commitments within Level of Ambition 2 objectives.

Ongoing planning for the acquisition of military equipment is conducted through the utilisation of the Defence Equipment Development Plan, which is a rolling plan, considered through joint civil-military co-operation, and provides a consolidated, structured basis for ongoing investment in military equipment to develop and maintain necessary capabilities. This work is progressed under the guidance of the Strategic Framework for the Transformation of the Defence Forces, which was published in February 2026, the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces (CODF) and the updated Detailed Implementation Plan for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces.

In relation to the air domain and specifically strategic reach, the CoDF recommended the following: “Enhancement of the Air Corps’ fleet with the addition of a fixed wing aircraft with strategic reach capability”.

The Dassault Falcon 6X is a next generation strategic reach aircraft which will enhance the State’s transport, airlift and medical evacuation capabilities, with a range of over 5000 nautical miles meaning it can reach the west coast of the United States without the need to refuel. The aircraft replaces the Learjet 45 operated by the Air Corps for over 20 years, which seated 7 passengers, as opposed to the 14 passengers which the Falcon 6X can carry.

It provides the State with an independent and flexible air transport service, which is an increasingly essential requirement to assist the Government in meeting Ireland’s national and international obligations.

In addition, the aircraft will be used for a broad range of other taskings, including the evacuation of Irish citizens from critical situations, air-ambulance patient transfers, medical evacuation or repatriation of Irish Defence Forces personnel deployed on overseas missions, and logistics support for the transport of supplies to Irish Defence Forces overseas missions.

In 2023/ 2024 an open competition with multiple bidders was conducted under the procedures as set out in the Defence and Security Directive 81/2009/EC, and in accordance with the requirements of the Public Spending Code. Following this a contract was awarded to Dassault Aviation S.A., a French company, for the provision of the Falcon 6X strategic reach aircraft.

A Civil Military Project Team comprising Officials from my Department and the Air Corps delivered this project, with legal support being provided by the Office of the Chief State Solicitor.

The award of the contract followed a robust analysis of the options that met the identified capability requirement, as specified by the Public Spending Code. This analysis considered operational requirements, including seating. The new aircraft will provide the independent and flexible strategic reach air transport service which is an increasingly essential requirement to assist the Government in meeting its national and international obligations.

The commercial information of unsuccessful tenderers is protected both by public procurement law and the Freedom of Information Act, and I am not in a position to disclose such information.

Operational costs concerning the operation of the strategic reach aircraft is publicly available on the Department's website, where it is updated on a monthly basis: www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/e8132-routinely-published-information/#ministerial-air-transport-service-mats.

The total cost of the Falcon 6X aircraft procurement was just below €53 million excluding VAT. The delivery of the Dassault Falcon 6X strategic reach aircraft represents a significant enhancement of the State’s transport, airlift and medical capabilities, and is further evidence of the Government’s ongoing commitment to enhance the capabilities of the Defence Forces.

In addition to the acquisition of the Falcon 6X strategic reach aircraft, capital investment in aircraft has included in recent years; two new Airbus C-295W Maritime Patrol Aircraft delivered in 2023; one new Airbus C-295M in Military Transport configuration delivered in October 2025; and four Airbus H145M Light Utility Multi-Role Helicopters, with these aircraft in production for phased delivery in 2027 and 2028.

I am satisfied that the Defence Forces, including the Air Corps have the necessary modern and effective range of equipment available to them which is in line with best international standards in order to fulfil all roles assigned to them by Government.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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27. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence whether the primary operational role of the Dassault Falcon 6X is ministerial and government transport, VIP transport, Defence Forces operational transport, maritime patrol, or a combination thereof; what proportion of projected annual flight hours are allocated to each role; whether a dedicated ministerial or government transport aircraft of this specification represents an appropriate use of the Defence Forces capital budget given the acknowledged capability gaps in maritime patrol, surveillance, and personnel equipment identified in the Commission on the Defence Forces report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17563/26]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Air Corps, Army, and Naval Service is maintained and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government. Equipment priorities for the Air Corps, Army, and Naval Service are considered in the context of the established capability development and Equipment Development Planning (EDP) processes.

The Dassault Falcon 6X is a next generation aircraft which will enhance the State’s transport, airlift and medical evacuation capabilities. It provides the State with an independent and flexible air transport service, which is an increasingly essential requirement to assist the Government in meeting Ireland’s national and international obligations.

In addition, the aircraft will be used for a broad range of other taskings, including the evacuation of Irish citizens from critical situations, air-ambulance patient transfers, medical evacuation or repatriation of Irish Defence Forces personnel deployed on overseas missions, and logistics support for the transport of supplies to Irish Defence Forces overseas missions.

Capital investment in aircraft continues with the placing of the following contracts in recent years:

• Two new Airbus C-295 in Maritime Patrol Aircraft delivered in 2023.

• One new Airbus C-295 in a Military Transport configuration. This aircraft was delivered in October 2025.

• Four Airbus H145M Light Utility Multi-Role Helicopters. These aircraft are in production with phased delivery planned in 2027 and 2028.

Specifically concerning the procurement of future Air Corps assets, the rolling Equipment Development Plan (EDP) encompasses a programme of sustained equipment procurement/acquisition across the Air Corps, Army, and Naval Service as identified and prioritised in the new Strategic Framework and the recently updated Detailed Implementation Plan for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces.

This is part of the ambitious programme of work to move to Level of Ambition 2 ( LOA2) and will ensure that the Air Corps and the wider Defence Forces have the major equipment platforms, ancillary equipment and force protection equipment required to carry out their important roles both at home and overseas.

Capital funding of €1.7 billion has been allocated to Defence under the National Development Plan for the period 2026-2030. The funding represents an increase of €600 million or 55% on the previous baseline figure of €1.1 billion.

I am satisfied that the ongoing programme of prioritised sustained investment in upgrading and enhancing Air Corps capabilities will ensure that the Defence Forces continue to be suitably equipped to fulfil all roles assigned by Government.