Written Answers Nos. 410-429
410. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Defence whether her Department keeps any statistics on the inclusion of those with ADHD or on the autism spectrum in the Defence Forces, including the Reserve Defence Force; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74125/25]
View answerIt has not been possible to provide a response within the time frame available. I will respond to the Deputy when the information requested is to hand.
411. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Defence to provide a list of AI pilot projects which have taken place in her Department within the past 12 months; the expenditure associated with those projects; and whether they are still ongoing, in tabular form. [74130/25]
View answerIn line with the National AI Strategy and the Guidelines for the Responsible use of Artificial Intelligence in the Public Service, my Department is actively exploring a range of opportunities to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) for business purposes.
As part of ongoing innovation and digital transformation efforts, my Department has established an AI Working Group. This group is responsible for exploring the strategic use of artificial intelligence across departmental functions, identifying opportunities for the use of AI, staff upskilling, and ensuring ethical AI practices.
My Department recently rolled out a pilot AI powered Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) tool for supporting staff in answering questions on internal departmental documents. The tool is currently in use with a pilot group of users with a view to wider roll-out in early 2026.
|
Pilot AI Project |
Cost |
|
Defence documentation RAG Tool |
€90,629 |
412. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence whether standards or service-level targets exist for her Department or bodies under the aegis of her Department, in responding to correspondence from members of local authorities; if compliance with such standards is monitored; the reasons for delays or failures to respond to correspondence from elected members; and the measures being taken to ensure more consistent and timely communication going forward. [74269/25]
View answerIn its Customer Service Charter, my Department commits to acknowledging all written and electronic customer correspondence within three working days of receipt, unless a definitive reply can be issued within five days. This includes correspondence received from members of local authorities.
My Department's Customer Service Charter also encompasses the Army Pensions Board.
Where possible, a definitive reply to customer correspondence is provided within three working weeks. In circumstances where this is not possible, an interim reply is issued.
My Department's Customer Service Office monitors correspondence to ensure that these commitments are met.
While the bodies under the aegis of my Department, other than the Army Pensions Board, are not subject to the commitments undertaken by the Department in its Customer Service Charter, they are each committed to responding to all correspondence received as quickly as is practicable and effectively in line with the terms of the Department’s Customer Service Charter.
413. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Defence the office rental costs per annum for staff in her Department and for each agency or organisation under her remit, in each of the years between 2015 and 2025 inclusive, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74445/25]
View answerAll buildings and office space used or occupied by civil servants in the Department of Defence are owned by the Office of Public Works.
In terms of information relating to space used by military personnel, my Department rents buildings for use by the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) in various locations. Information on those costs for the years 2015-2025 is in the below table:
|
List of properties rented |
Total rent from 2015 to date 2025 |
|
Sligo - Use for RDF |
€138,794.55 |
|
Cavan - Use for RDF |
€226,387.40 |
|
Westmeath - Use for RDF |
€346,038.20 |
|
Donegal - Use for RDF |
€135,360.66 |
|
Cork - Use for RDF |
€16,000 |
In addition, following the establishment of the Independent Review Group on Dignity and Equality issues in the Defence Forces in 2022, a building was rented by my Department for their use while they conducted their work. Information on those costs is in the below table:
|
Year |
Rent paid |
|
2022 |
€97,0000.00 |
|
2023 |
€24,183.56 |
414. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Defence when her Department alerted air traffic controllers at Dublin Airport to the drone activity surrounding President Zelenskyy’s visit to Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74505/25]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that it is not appropriate for me to comment on operational decisions and security matters.
415. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Defence the payroll cost of her Department and of each organisation or agency under its remit individually, in 2015 to 2025, by year, in tabular form. [74623/25]
View answerThe table below provides details of the payroll costs for civil servants in my Department for the years 2015 to 2025. There are three bodies under the aegis of my Department; the Army Pensions Board, the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces and the External Oversight Body of the Defence Forces (EOB), which was placed on a statutory basis on 1 December 2024. The payroll costs for the civil service support staff for those bodies are included in the data below for the Department.
|
Year |
Payroll Costs |
|
2015 |
€17,236,184.92 |
|
2016 |
€17,107,769.87 |
|
2017 |
€17,161,317.41 |
|
2018 |
€17,651,771.90 |
|
2019 |
€18,585,677.78 |
|
2020 |
€19,691,046.64 |
|
2021 |
€20,905,094.25 |
|
2022 |
€22,068,787.67 |
|
2023 |
€24,127,892.83 |
|
2024 |
€27,951,652.27 |
|
2025 |
€32,248,862.31 |
416. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Defence if her Department will review the case of a person (details supplied); if she will ensure that the person is not liable for the debt. [74785/25]
View answerThe issue raised by the Deputy relates to the operation of Section 52 of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and other Provisions) Act 2012. This legislation comes under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
The Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and other Provisions) Act 2012 provides for the abatement of a public service pension where a retired public servant, whose pension is in payment, is re-employed in the public service such that no more of the pension when combined with the remuneration in the new position shall exceed the pensionable remuneration of the old position. It should be noted that it is the pension which is abated and not the salary in the new position.
Under the 2012 Act, the principle of abatement applies in cases where a public service pensioner is appointed to a public service position on or after 1 November 2012.
The measure applies across all of the public service, including the Defence Forces. It does not apply in relation to employment with the commercial state bodies or where public service pensioners are employed outside the public service.
Pension abatement operates to ensure that pensions payable to public servants do not have the effect of making a pensioner's earnings from their current public service job, plus their existing public service retirement pension, exceed the current equivalent of pensionable salary from their old public service job. The pension payable is reduced as appropriate, that is, abated, to stay within the overall limit.
Operation of the system of abatement depends upon notification by the second/new Public Service Body and/or the individual in question to the pension paying authority that the person has taken up employment again within the public sector. In the case above (details supplied) the person started work with a second public sector body in September 2017. The Department of Defence was not notified of this until November 2025 and was therefore unaware until that point that the pension required to be abated. Once the Department of Defence became aware of the position the person in question was contacted and informed of the situation and abatement of their pension immediately commenced in accordance with the legislative requirements. Unfortunately, by that stage, a significant pension overpayment had accumulated in respect of his pension not having been abated on foot of his employment with the second public service body from Sept 2017 to November 2025.
The Department of Defence has an accounting responsibility to recover any loss to public funds and is not in a position to write off the debt in question as to do so would contravene government accounting rules. It would also contravene the relevant public sector pensions legislation which provides that abatement be applied in such cases. In addition, in the interests of equity, it is essential that the abatement policy is applied consistently in the treatment of individuals impacted by it.
The Department of Defence is nonetheless agreeable to negotiating a reasonable repayment plan with the person in question, taking into account the circumstances of this case and the potential hardship which repayment of this substantial debt could cause.
I recognise that the second public service body in this case also falls under my remit. I will also ask my officials in that Department to examine the circumstances of this case in full.
It should be noted that there is provision, under Section 52(4) of the legislation, for a waiver of abatement, in exceptional circumstances, where the position requires a person with particular training and experience and that position cannot be filled other than by the employment of the pensioner. Applications for waivers of abatement must be made by the new employing department or public body rather than by the pension administrator. Such applications are assessed on their own merits on a case-by-case basis and are subject to the approval of, and can only be granted by, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. My understanding is that no such application was made, by the other employing Department, or approved in respect of the case of the individual referred to.
As the Deputy may be aware, the principle of abatement of a public service pension is long-standing within the rules of various public service pension schemes. Abatement policy remains a key component of Public Service pension policy and addresses valid concerns about simultaneous payment of both pension and salary in the Public service. There are no current plans to review pension abatement policy.
417. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Defence the number of promotions from the rank of regimental quartermaster sergeant to sergeant major within the Army which occurred in the years 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74882/25]
View answerI can confirm that there were no promotions from the rank of regimental quartermaster sergeant to sergeant major within the Army in either 2024 or 2025. There are currently no vacancies at the rank of sergeant major.
More broadly, in 2025 there was a total of 642 promotions for both Enlisted Personnel and Officers - 458 for Enlisted Personnel and 184 for Officers.
418. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Defence the number of promotions from the rank of chief petty officer to warrant officer within the Naval Service which occurred in the years 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74886/25]
View answerThank you Deputy for your enquiry. I can confirm the number of promotions from the rank of chief petty officer to warrant officer within the Naval Service which occurred in the years 2024 and 2025, is a total of one (1), which took place in 2025.
There are currently no vacancies at the rank Warrant Officer within the Naval Service.
More broadly, in 2025 there was a total of 642 promotions for both Enlisted Personnel and Officers-458 for Enlisted Personnel and 184 for Officers.
419. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Defence the number of data breaches recorded by her Department in 2025; and the number that were reported to the Data Protection Commissioner. [74892/25]
View answerThe Department of Defence recorded thirty one data breaches for 2025. Two have been reported to the Data Protection Commission.
420. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Defence if footage of suspected drones spotted during President Zelenskyy’s visit to Ireland will be released; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [75083/25]
View answer421. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding the investigation into a suspected drone incident during President Zelenskyy’s visit to Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [75084/25]
View answer422. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Defence if her Department has ascertained the origin of the suspected drones involved in an incident during President Zelenskyy’s visit to Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [75085/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 420 to 422, inclusive, together.
I wish to advise the Deputy that the issue referred to is the subject of an investigation by An Garda Síochána and as such it is not appropriate for me to comment on operational decisions and security matters.
423. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Defence the reason civil aviation and air traffic control authorities were not alerted to a suspected danger arising from the suspected drone incident during President Zelenskyy’s visit to Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [75086/25]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the issue referred to is the subject of An Garda Síochána. It is not appropriate for me to comment on operational decisions and security matters.
424. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Defence the number of projects in her Department that were delayed in 2023 and 2024 due to the change of document from the Public Spending Code to the Infrastructure Guidelines, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [75106/25]
View answerI am advised the change from the Public Spending Code to the Infrastructure Guidelines did not delay the delivery of any capital infrastructure projects undertaken by my Department.
425. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Defence the salary scale that applies to the Secretary General in her Department and to the head of each agency for which they are responsible; whether this scale has changed in the past two years or whether there are proposals to change this scale in the coming period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [75192/25]
View answerThere are three bodies under the aegis of my Department; the Army Pensions Board, the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces and the External Oversight Body of the Defence Forces (EOB), which was placed on a statutory basis on 1 December 2024. None of these bodies is headed by a chief executive.
The Ombudsman for the Defence Forces is a statutory post remunerated at a set rate approved by the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation as is the Chair of the Army Pensions Board. Category 1 State Body fees have been approved for the members of the External Oversight Body of the Defence Forces, other than the Secretary General who serves ex officio as a member of the Body.
The Secretary General of my Department is on the Level III Secretary General salary scale. There have been no changes to the salary scale in the last two years other than those arising from the Public Service Pay Agreement 2024-2026. All civil service salary scales are available on the Government's website www.gov.ie.
The grading structure for Secretary General posts was previously reviewed on a number of occasions by the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector, but there are currently no proposed changes to the scale.
426. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Defence the amount expended on advertising and promotion in her Department, and within each agency for which she is responsible, for 2022 to 2024, by year and budgeted for 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [75210/25]
View answerThe information requested in relation to the amount spent by my Department on advertising and promotion from 2022 to 2024 is set out in tabular form below:
|
Year |
Objective |
Media platforms |
Advertising agencies |
Amount spent |
|
2022 |
Recruitment infographic |
Not applicable |
Vermillion |
€1,033.20 |
|
2022 |
Civilian Recruitment Competition |
Online |
Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland |
€300.00 |
|
2022 |
Be Winter Ready, Be Summer Ready |
Print/ radio |
Spark Foundry |
€106,030.54 |
|
2022 |
Army Rifle Ranges Warning Notices to public warning of Military Firing Ranges. |
|
North Wicklow Times Ltd |
€2,398.50 |
|
2022 |
Army Rifle Ranges Warning Notices to public warning of Military Firing Ranges. |
|
Spark Foundry |
€46,110.70 |
|
2022 |
Notice from the Defence Force Training Centre- Roads closures in the Curragh camp. |
Radio |
KFM |
€369 |
|
2023 |
Civilian Recruitment Competition |
|
Public Appointments Service (PAS) |
€1,701.34 |
|
2023 |
Be Winter Ready, Be Summer Ready |
Print/ radio |
Spark Foundry |
€94,339.95 |
|
2023 |
Army Rifle Ranges Warning Notices to public warning of Military Firing Ranges. |
|
North Wicklow Times Ltd |
€2,398.50 |
|
2023 |
Army Rifle Ranges Warning Notices to public warning of Military Firing Ranges. |
|
Spark Foundry |
€31,161.42 |
|
2023 |
Notice from the Defence Force Training Centre- Roads closures in the Curragh camp. |
Radio |
KFM |
€369 |
|
2024 |
Recruitment infographic |
Not applicable |
Vermillion |
€67.65 |
|
2024 |
Defence Forces Tribunal of Inquiry calls for information and discovery notices |
|
Spark Foundry |
€62,905.40 |
|
2024 |
Civilian Recruitment Competition |
Online |
Irish Association of Social Workers (IASW) |
€275.00 |
|
2024 |
Be Winter Ready, Be Summer Ready |
Print/ radio |
Spark Foundry |
€44,528.46 |
|
2024 |
Army Rifle Ranges Warning Notices to public warning of Military Firing Ranges. |
|
North Wicklow Times Ltd |
€2,878.20 |
|
2024 |
Army Rifle Ranges Warning Notices to public warning of Military Firing Ranges. |
|
Spark Foundry |
€40,138.12 |
|
2024 |
Notice from the Defence Force Training Centre- Roads closures in the Curragh camp. |
Radio |
KFM |
€369 |
The budgetary allocation in respect of advertising in 2026 is €100,000.
The expenditure incurred on advertising and promotion by the bodies under the aegis of my Department for the years 2022 to 2024 and their respective budget allocations for 2026 is being compiled and will be provided as soon as possible.
427. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Defence the number of press, media or communications staff currently employed in her Department and within each agency for which she is responsible; the cost of these staff for 2025 and the expected cost for 2026; whether there are proposals to increase the number of such staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [75228/25]
View answerThere are three bodies under the aegis of my Department; the Army Pensions Board, the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces and the External Oversight Body of the Defence Forces (EOB), which was placed on a statutory basis on 1 December 2024. None of these bodies have dedicated press, media or communications staff.
The Communications Office of the Department of Defence is responsible for communicating the work of the Department both internally and externally through a range of digital channels, including web and a range of social media channels, and is also responsible for responding to all queries regarding the work of the Minister and the Department.
There are currently five staff employed in the Communications Office in my Department. The cost of these staff for 2025 was €600,783. There are no proposals at present to increase the number of staff in the Communications office and it is expected the costs for 2026 will be similar to those for 2025.
428. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Defence the estimated cost to her Department and to each agency for which they are responsible arising from Ireland’s presidency of the European Council; the line items or events for which a cost is expected to arise and the estimated cost for each; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [75246/25]
View answer429. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Defence the priorities of her Department and each agency for which they are responsible for, in respect of Ireland’s presidency of the European Council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [75264/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 428 and 429 together.
Ireland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the eighth time from 1 July to 31 December 2026. Preparations are intensifying across both policy and operational strands of planning, within my Department and within the Defence Forces, and across Government.
In this context, my Department and the Defence Forces are working closely with the central Presidency team within the Department of Foreign Affairs, as well as with other relevant Departments and agencies across Government, to plan the policy priorities and related events that will be hosted by my Department and the Defence Forces during the Presidency.
Ireland’s Presidency comes at a time when security and defence are at the forefront of Europe’s agenda. As Minister of Defence, I intend to take forward the security and defence agenda constructively at EU level, reflecting the priorities of the Union at that time, while also acknowledging the specific character of Ireland’s own security and defence policy.
My Department’s priorities will be developed in tandem with the overall Presidency priorities and policy programme currently under development. This overall programme will take into account the EU's Strategic Agenda for 2024-29, the legislative programme proposed by the European Commission, and the Government's priorities in relation to the EU. It is planned that Ireland’s policy programme will be finalised and published shortly before the start of our Presidency term in June 2026, and it is at that stage that individual Department priorities will be confirmed.
The Government has allocated significant resources to ensure the successful delivery of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, scheduled for the second half of 2026.
The overall estimated cost across Government Departments is approximately €293 million, as provided for in Budget 2026. This figure covers Presidency-wide operations, logistics, and staffing.
In this context, the Department of Defence, and the Defence Forces, will deliver 13 Presidency-related events on the island of Ireland and approximately 7 events through the Permanent Representation and Military Representation in Brussels, at an indicative cost of up to approximately €0.9 million, which is included within the overall Presidency budget provided for in Budget 2026.
As Minister for Defence and for Foreign Affairs & Trade, both Departments under my remit will continue to work closely together, and in close coordination with the Department of the Taoiseach, in this respect.
