Tuesday, 8 Jul 2025

Departmental Advertising

Questions (228)

Conor D McGuinness

Question:

228. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his expenditure on advertising detailing the objective, duration, media platforms, advertising agency or agencies, and cost of each advertising campaign in each of the years 2015 to 2025. [37028/25]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Defence (Deputy Simon Harris)

The information requested by Deputy McGuinness in relation to the amount spent by my Department on advertising from 2015 to 2025 is set out in tabular form below:

Year	Objective	Duration	Media platforms	Advertising agencies	Cost
2015	Civilian Recruitment Competition	2 weeks, 1 month	Print	Mediavest Advertising	€8,194.62
2015	Civil Defence recruitment	1 day	Print	Ard Education, Roscrea People	€1,099.50
2015	Be Winter Ready, Be Summer Ready	all year	Print/ radio	Spark Foundry	€39,448.77
2015	Glen of Imaal Advert- Warning notice when visiting Glen of Imaal	1 publication	Print	Silchester Marketing	€879.45
2015	Army Rifle Ranges Warning Notices to public warning of Military Firing Ranges.	1 publication at each bank holiday throughout the year.	Print	North Wicklow Times Ltd	€1,199.25
2015	Army Rifle Ranges Warning Notices to public warning of Military Firing Ranges.	1 publication in all papers at each bank holiday throughout the year or at the discretion of the military at any time of the year.	Print	MediaVest Ltd	€27,522.64
2015	National Heritage Event Week Guide Ad- Warning notice when visiting Glen of Imaal	1 publication	Print	Irish Food Publishers Ltd	€774.90
2015	Ad for Gormanston Firing Exercise	1 publication	Online	MediaVest Ltd	€738
2016	Civilian Recruitment Competition	2 weeks, 1 month	Print/ online	Mediavest, Irish Association of Social Workers	€9,325.50
2016	Civil Defence recruitment	1 day	Print	Digital Media Enterprises; Ard Education; Roscrea People; JP Devlin Media	€6,794.40
2016	Be Winter Ready, Be Summer Ready	all year	Print/ radio	Spark Foundry	€35,885.78
2016	Ad for Gormanston Firing Exercise	2 publications	Online	Mediavest Ltd	€1,476
2016	Army Rifle Ranges Warning Notices to public warning of Military Firing Ranges.	1 publication at each bank holiday throughout the year.	Print	North Wicklow Times Ltd	€1,199.25
2016	Army Rifle Ranges Warning Notices to public warning of Military Firing Ranges.	1 publication at each bank holiday throughout the year.	Print	MediaVest	€34,037.75
2016	National Heritage Event Week Guide Ad- Warning notice when visiting Glen of Imaal	1 publication	Print	Irish Food Publishers Ltd	€774.90
2017	Civilian Recruitment Competition	2 weeks, 1 month	Print	Mediavest	€12,959.32
2017	Civil Defence recruitment	1 day	Print	Digital Media Enterprises; Ard Education; Roscrea People; JP Devlin Media	€3,713.25
2017	Be Winter Ready, Be Summer Ready	all year	Print/ radio	Spark Foundry	€37,597.52
2017	Army Rifle Ranges Warning Notices to public warning of Military Firing Ranges.	1 publication at each bank holiday throughout the year.	Print	North Wicklow Times Ltd	€1,199.25
2017	Army Rifle Ranges Warning Notices to public warning of Military Firing Ranges.	1 publication in all papers at each bank holiday throughout the year.	Print	MediaVest Ltd	€26,522.73
2017	Ad for Gormanston Firing Exercise	2 publications	Online	MediaVest Ltd	€738
2017	National Heritage Event Week Guide Ad- Warning notice when visiting Glen of Imaal	1 publication	Print	The Heritage Council	€630
2017	Notice from the Defence Force Training Centre- Roads closures in the Curragh camp.	2 weeks	Radio	KFM	€369
2018	Civilian Recruitment Competition	2 weeks, 1 month	Print	Mediavest	€10,702.89
2018	Civil Defence recruitment	1 day	Print	Lions Club of Roscrea; Roscrea People	€350.00
2018	Be Winter Ready, Be Summer Ready	all year	Print/ radio	Spark Foundry	€36,906.96
2018	Army Rifle Ranges Warning Notices to public warning of Military Firing Ranges.	1 publication at each bank holiday throughout the year.	Print	North Wicklow Times Ltd	€1,439.10
2018	Army Rifle Ranges Warning Notices to public warning of Military Firing Ranges.	1 publication in all papers at each bank holiday throughout the year.	Print	Spark Foundry	€32,237.60
2018	Ad for Gormanston Firing Exercise	Once off publication for year	Online	Spark Foundry	€738
2018	National Heritage Event Week Guide Ad- Warning notice when visiting Glen of Imaal	Once off publication for year	Print	The Heritage Council	€630
2018	Notice from the Defence Force Training Centre- Roads closures in the Curragh camp.	Advertised 20 times during the 2 weeks preceding the 19th July.	Radio	KFM	€369
2019	Civilian Recruitment Competition	2 weeks, 1 month	Print	Public Appointments Service (PAS)	€5,572.41
2019	Be Winter Ready, Be Summer Ready	all year	Print/ radio	Spark Foundry	€35,892.98
2019	Army Rifle Ranges Warning Notices to public warning of Military Firing Ranges.	1 publication at each bank holiday throughout the year.	Print	North Wicklow Times Ltd	€1,918.75
2019	Army Rifle Ranges Warning Notices to public warning of Military Firing Ranges.	1 publication in all papers at each bank holiday throughout the year.	Print	Spark Foundry Foundry	€27,487.50
2020	Civilian Recruitment Competition	2 weeks, 1 month	Print/ Online	Public Appointments Service (PAS)	€3,446.28
2020	Be Winter Ready, Be Summer Ready	all year	Print/ radio	Spark Foundry	€48,415.78
2020	Army Rifle Ranges Warning Notices to public warning of Military Firing Ranges.	1 publication at each bank holiday throughout the year.	Print	North Wicklow Times Ltd	€1,911.00
2020	Army Rifle Ranges Warning Notices to public warning of Military Firing Ranges.	1 publication in all papers at each bank holiday throughout the year.	Print	Spark Foundry Foundry	€27,743.08
2021	Public Consultation in relation to the work of the Commission on the Defence Forces.	1 day	Print	Spark Foundry	€2,183.59
2021	Be Winter Ready, Be Summer Ready	all year	Print/ radio	Spark Foundry	€95,736.35
2021	Army Rifle Ranges Warning Notices to public warning of Military Firing Ranges.	1 publication at each bank holiday throughout the year.	Print	North Wicklow Times Ltd	€2,398.50
2021	Army Rifle Ranges Warning Notices to public warning of Military Firing Ranges.	1 publication in all papers at each bank holiday throughout the year.	Print	Spark Foundry Foundry	€40,739.44
2022	Recruitment infographic	Not applicable	Not applicable	Vermillion	€1,033.20
2022	Civilian Recruitment Competition	2weeks 1 month	Online	Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland	€300.00
2022	Be Winter Ready, Be Summer Ready	all year	Print/ radio	Spark Foundry	€106,030.54
2022	Army Rifle Ranges Warning Notices to public warning of Military Firing Ranges.	1 publication at each bank holiday throughout the year.	Print	North Wicklow Times Ltd	€2,398.50
2022	Army Rifle Ranges Warning Notices to public warning of Military Firing Ranges.	1 publication in all papers at each bank holiday throughout the year.	Print	Spark Foundry Foundry	€46,110.70
2022	Notice from the Defence Force Training Centre- Roads closures in the Curragh camp.	2 weeks	Radio	KFM	€369
2023	Civilian Recruitment Competition	2weeks 1 month	Print	Public Appointments Service (PAS)	€1,701.34
2023	Be Winter Ready, Be Summer Ready	all year	Print/ radio	Spark Foundry	€94,339.95
2023	Army Rifle Ranges Warning Notices to public warning of Military Firing Ranges.	1 publication at each bank holiday throughout the year.	Print	North Wicklow Times Ltd	€2,398.50
2023	Army Rifle Ranges Warning Notices to public warning of Military Firing Ranges.	1 publication in all papers at each bank holiday throughout the year.	Print	Spark Foundry Foundry	€31,161.42
2023	Notice from the Defence Force Training Centre- Roads closures in the Curragh camp.	2 weeks	Radio	KFM	€369
2024	Recruitment infographic	Not applicable	Not applicable	Vermillion	€67.65
2024	Defence Forces Tribunal of Inquiry calls for information and discovery notices	1 day	Print	Spark Foundry	€62,905.40
2024	Civilian Recruitment Competition	2weeks 1month	Online	Irish Association of Social Workers (IASW)	€275.00
2024	Be Winter Ready, Be Summer Ready	all year	Print/ radio	Spark Foundry	€44,528.46
2024	Army Rifle Ranges Warning Notices to public warning of Military Firing Ranges.	1 publication at each bank holiday throughout the year.	Print	North Wicklow Times Ltd	€2,878.20
2024	Army Rifle Ranges Warning Notices to public warning of Military Firing Ranges.	1 publication in all papers at each bank holiday throughout the year.	Print	Spark Foundry Foundry	€40,138.12
2024	Notice from the Defence Force Training Centre- Roads closures in the Curragh camp.	2 weeks	Radio	KFM	€369
2025	Recruitment infographic	Not applicable	Not applicable	Vermillion	€67.65
2025	Army Rifle Ranges Warning Notices to public warning of Military Firing Ranges.	1 publication at each bank holiday throughout the year.	Print	North Wicklow Times Ltd	€2,398.50
2025	Army Rifle Ranges Warning Notices to public warning of Military Firing Ranges.	1 publication in all papers at each bank holiday throughout the year.	Print	Spark Foundry Foundry	€28,194.86

Advertising agencies	Cost
Mediavest Advertising	€8,194.62
Ard Education, Roscrea People	€1,099.50
Spark Foundry	€39,448.77
Silchester Marketing	€879.45
North Wicklow Times Ltd	€1,199.25
MediaVest Ltd	€27,522.64
Irish Food Publishers Ltd	€774.90
MediaVest Ltd	€738
Mediavest, Irish Association of Social Workers	€9,325.50
Digital Media Enterprises; Ard Education; Roscrea People; JP Devlin Media	€6,794.40
Spark Foundry	€35,885.78
Mediavest Ltd	€1,476
North Wicklow Times Ltd	€1,199.25
MediaVest	€34,037.75
Irish Food Publishers Ltd	€774.90
Mediavest	€12,959.32
Digital Media Enterprises; Ard Education; Roscrea People; JP Devlin Media	€3,713.25
Spark Foundry	€37,597.52
North Wicklow Times Ltd	€1,199.25
MediaVest Ltd	€26,522.73
MediaVest Ltd	€738
The Heritage Council	€630
KFM	€369
Mediavest	€10,702.89
Lions Club of Roscrea; Roscrea People	€350.00
Spark Foundry	€36,906.96
North Wicklow Times Ltd	€1,439.10
Spark Foundry	€32,237.60
Spark Foundry	€738
The Heritage Council	€630
KFM	€369
Public Appointments Service (PAS)	€5,572.41
Spark Foundry	€35,892.98
North Wicklow Times Ltd	€1,918.75
Spark Foundry Foundry	€27,487.50
Public Appointments Service (PAS)	€3,446.28
Spark Foundry	€48,415.78
North Wicklow Times Ltd	€1,911.00
Spark Foundry Foundry	€27,743.08
Spark Foundry	€2,183.59
Spark Foundry	€95,736.35
North Wicklow Times Ltd	€2,398.50
Spark Foundry Foundry	€40,739.44
Vermillion	€1,033.20
Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland	€300.00
Spark Foundry	€106,030.54
North Wicklow Times Ltd	€2,398.50
Spark Foundry Foundry	€46,110.70
KFM	€369
Public Appointments Service (PAS)	€1,701.34
Spark Foundry	€94,339.95
North Wicklow Times Ltd	€2,398.50
Spark Foundry Foundry	€31,161.42
KFM	€369
Vermillion	€67.65
Spark Foundry	€62,905.40
Irish Association of Social Workers (IASW)	€275.00
Spark Foundry	€44,528.46
North Wicklow Times Ltd	€2,878.20
Spark Foundry Foundry	€40,138.12
KFM	€369
Vermillion	€67.65
North Wicklow Times Ltd	€2,398.50
Spark Foundry Foundry	€28,194.86

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (229)

Conor D McGuinness

Question:

229. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his Department's expenditure on media training in each of the years 2015 to 2025; the firms contracted to provide training; and the position or grade of those availing of training for example minister, secretary general, principal officer and so on. [37045/25]

View answer

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Defence

The following table sets out the details of my Department's expenditure on media training in each of the years 2015-2025, those contracted to provide training and the position of those benefiting from the training.

Year	Company	Nature of Training	Cost
2018	Carr Communications	Office of Emergency Planning staff	€3,000
2019	Carr Communications	Office of Emergency Planning staff	€8,250
2022	Carr Communications	Office of Emergency Planning staff	€5,000
2023	Carr Communications	Office of Emergency Planning staff 32 participants	€13,750
2024	Carr Communications	Civil Defence Officers (HEO Equivalent), Assistant Civil Defence Officers (EO Equivalent)	€2,500
2024	Fuzion	Office of Emergency Planning staff	€7,500

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (230)

Conor D McGuinness

Question:

230. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his Department's expenditure on media consultancy in each of the years 2015 to 2025; the consultancy firms involved; and the nature of each contract, in tabular form. [37063/25]

View answer

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Defence

The information for the years 2015-2025 relating to expenditure on media consultancy, consultants engaged and the cost of those contracts is set out in the following table.

Year	Consultants Engaged	Nature of Work Carried Out	Cost
2024	Q4PR	External communications support to the Chair and Members of the External Oversight Body	€1,599
2024	360 Finn Partners	Assistance in the delivery of a comprehensive Communications Strategy	€20,664

Defence Forces

Questions (231)

Barry Heneghan

Question:

231. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if his Department has sanctioned the expenditure of €299,000 excluding VAT to convert artillery towing Land Rovers from diesel to electric power; if such vehicles, if converted may be suitable for use in towing gun carriages at military funerals; if there are any other perceived advantages in such conversions, whether there are any further plans for such conversions of Defence Forces vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37086/25]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Defence (Deputy Simon Harris)

No such expenditure has been sanctioned by the Department in respect of the upgrading of these non-armoured vehicles.

Defence Forces

Questions (232)

Sinéad Gibney

Question:

232. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 335 of 29 April 2025, the outcome of the consultant’s report cited; whether he will make this report public; the steps his Department is taking to retrofit or otherwise bring vacant married quarters previously used by the Defence Forces owned by his Department back into use as accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37216/25]

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Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Defence

The Deputy may be aware that since the 1990s, the long-standing policy of the organisation has been to withdraw from the provision of married quarters for serving personnel. This policy approach remains reflective of the State’s move away from the historic provision of tied housing for State employees.

In terms of the Defence Forces residential housing stock, there are currently eighty (80) uninhabitable residential properties. None of these properties can be brought up to a habitable standard without significant work, and many were built prior to the introduction of building regulations. It was in this context that Consultants were commissioned to assess the condition of the Defence Forces vacant housing stock and its suitability for conversion/refurbishment to provide for additional single living-in accommodation for Defence Forces personnel, which I referenced in my previous reply on this matter.

This report has now been presented to me, and I have reviewed its recommendations on which properties are suitable for refurbishment as accommodation and which are not. I have directed that my officials now engage with the Defence Forces to include these projects into the existing infrastructure development plan. The full details of the report will not be published due to the commercial sensitivity of projected cost estimates contained within.

These developments will dovetail with an extensive wider programme of Defence Forces accommodation procurement. Since the launch of the Infrastructure Delivery Plan in January 2020, 13 accommodation projects at a combined cost of over €49m have been completed, providing 775 beds. In terms of conversion of former married quarters specifically, a number of these projects are currently being progressed in addition to those already completed in recent years.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (233)

Albert Dolan

Question:

233. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of purchase orders processed by his Department in 2023 that were not included in the published reports of purchase orders over €20,000; the number of purchase orders excluded due to their value falling below the €20,000 threshold, and the total combined value of those purchase orders; and the number of purchase orders excluded because they related to transactions other than goods or services (for example, grants-in-aid, reimbursements), in line with reporting conventions. [37228/25]

View answer

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Defence

The detailed information sought by the Deputy is not readily available within the time frame sought. Officials in my Department are collating this information and I will arrange to have this information forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Orders.

I refer to PQ 37228/25, where you asked for details of “the number of purchase orders processed by his Department in 2023 that were not included in the published reports of purchase orders over €20,000; the number of purchase orders excluded due to their value falling below the €20,000 threshold, and the total combined value of those purchase orders; and the number of purchase orders excluded because they related to transactions other than goods or services (for example, grants-in-aid, reimbursements), in line with reporting conventions.”

I advised in response that the detailed information sought was not readily available within the time frame allowed. Officials in my Department have now carried out a detailed examination of purchase order records in order to provide the information requested in your PQ.

As you are aware, my Department routinely publishes details of purchase orders for goods and services valued at more than €20,000, on foot of a previous Programme for Government commitment and in accordance with the FOI Model Publication Scheme & Guidance published by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. This information is published on the Department of Defence website – www.gov.ie/en/collection/b61276-purchase-orders-over-20000/

My Department has published details of purchase orders for the year 2023 on the website, and I am advised that a small number of purchase orders for that year were excluded from the published list for security and operational reasons.

The total number of purchase orders processed in 2023 is 27,474 with a combined value of €451,752,839. The total number of all purchase orders processed in 2023 with a value less than €20,000 which were therefore not included in published reports is 25,959 with a combined value of €52,373,662. Please note that purchase orders are exclusive of VAT.

I am advised that a breakdown of purchase orders between goods, services and other transaction types is not available from my Department’s financial systems. The figures above include reimbursements, staff related expenses etc.

EU Regulations

Questions (234)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

234. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the procedures to be followed in order for Ireland to commit to the security action for Europe regulation further to his announcement on 27 June 2025 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37712/25]

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Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Defence

The SAFE (Security Action for Europe) instrument, entered into force on 29 May 2025. It is a new EU financial instrument that focuses on common procurement initiatives for priority capabilities. The European Commission will provide up to €150Bn to be disbursed to interested Member States on the basis of their national plans. These plans should contain a description of the defence product and a description of the planned activities for which the funding is being sought. The disbursements will take the form of competitively priced long-maturity loans, to be repaid by the beneficiary Member States.

The following procedures and timelines would need to be adhered to by any Member State that is looking to utilise the loan element of SAFE. 1) Member States must express their interest in a SAFE loan by 29th July - providing a minimum and maximum loan amount. 2) The deadline for submission of requests for financial assistance and associated defence industry plans is 30th November 2025. 3) Member States will be required to keep the Commission appraised of the development of the project every six months. 4) The last approval for disbursements can take place up until 31 December 2030.

In terms of the collaborative procurement opportunities element that SAFE presents, Ireland will look to identify common procurement opportunities offered by other Member States that align with our existing approved Equipment Development Plan (EDP) priorities. It should be noted that one of the criteria to availing of the certain derogations under the SAFE regulation from a procurement perspective is that at least one of the participating Member States must use SAFE loans. As such Ireland can potentially utilise such common procurement opportunities with other Member States without utilising the loan facility under SAFE.

Military Archives

Questions (235)

Mark Wall

Question:

235. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence where the military archives for the past 50 years are held; if they are accessible to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37793/25]

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Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Defence

The National Archives of Ireland Act, 1986 places an obligation on Departments of State and Scheduled Bodies (of which the Defence Forces is one) to make their records available for public inspection when they become 30 years old, as required under Section 8 of the Act, or else to apply for a certificate to withhold those records for public inspection where to do so would:

1. Be contrary to the public interest.

2. Would or might constitute a breach of statutory duty, or a breach of good faith on the ground that they contain information given in confidence.

3. Would or might cause distress or danger to living persons on the grounds that they contain information about individuals, or would or might likely lead to an action for damages or defamation.

Since 1990, the Military Archives has been the statutory place of deposit for the records of the Defence Forces, the Department of Defence, and the Army Pensions Board, as provided for by Section 14 of the Act and authorised by An Taoiseach.

In accordance with the ’30 year rule’, the ‘military archives’ for the last 50 years are therefore understood as the records dating from 1945-1995 (i.e. at least 30 years old). All records over 30 years old that have been transferred by the Defence Forces, the Department of Defence, and the Army Pensions Board are held on the premises of the Military Archives, Cathal Brugha Barracks, Rathmines, Dublin 6 and those records that have been certified for public inspection by the relevant Certifying Officer under Section 3 of the National Archives Act, 1986, Regulations 1988, are publicly accessible there. The Reading Room is open Tuesday to Thursday by appointment.

The current Military Archives building was opened in 2016, including a state-of-the-art, climate controlled repository with approximately 21 linear kilometres of shelving. Since this facility came on stream in 2016 the Military Archives has both transferred the records already in its custody at its former storage locations, and accessioned records from the Defence Forces, the Department of Defence and Army Pensions Board.

Defence Forces

Questions (236)

Alan Kelly

Question:

236. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his plans to ensure that Nenagh Military Barracks is maintained and a plan is put in place for its future. [37879/25]

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Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Defence

The former barracks in Nenagh is no longer required for military purposes and my Department does not have any long terms plans to use this facility. The First Registration process was completed in 2022 and the property is now a Registered Title held under a folio.

My Department has addressed illegal dumping on the property with the installation of palisade gates/fencing and to address illegal parking, submitted two planning applications to Tipperary County Council.

My Department has engaged with Tipperary County Council offering to transfer the property in question for a nominal sum, having regard to its central location in Nenagh and its historical ties to the town. However, the Council declined the offer.

The Department has agreed that it will engage a consultant to carry out a survey of the entire property to establish its condition and in particular that of the buildings. In addition, the consultant will examine the site and identify potential pathways forward for the development of the property. That will then be the basis for further consideration.