Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 February 2026
241. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Defence if her Department has an intended supplier in mind for the replacement of Ireland's LTAVs; if her Department is still open to engagement with interested suppliers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11530/26]
View answerMy 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 Defence Forces fleet of 27 Light Tactical Armoured Vehicles, the RG32M, has been in service since 2010. These vehicles are now approaching end of life, are being withdrawn from active service and are due to be replaced.
Following the publication of the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces in 2022, the Government approved a move, over a six-year period, to a level of Defence Forces’ capability equivalent to ‘Level of Ambition 2’ (LOA2).
A joint civil / military project team are continuing their work on an Armoured Fleet Programme which will include the replacement and enhancement of Ireland's Light Tactical Armoured Vehicle fleet in line with the Public Spending Code Infrastructure Guidelines. The Programme is currently in the process of identifying the needs and requirements of the future armoured fleet as part of the capability development planning process. The Programme will be progressed in line with the recently published updated Detailed Implementation Plan.
More generally, in July 2025 the Government approved the National Development Plan (2026-2030). As per the capital allocation under the NDP, the capital budget for Defence will rise from €1.1 billion under the previous NDP to €1.7billion, the largest increase in Defence funding in the history of the State.
This level of capital funding will allow a phased planned programme of sustained equipment and infrastructural development across the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service as identified and prioritised in the recommendations approved by Government within the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, while building on the significant investment programme over recent years.
