Ken O'Flynn
Question:
31. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence to provide a full itemised list of all aircraft, naval vessels, armoured vehicles, weapons systems, surveillance equipment, communications systems, and all other capital military equipment procured or contracted for procurement by the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces since the publication of the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces in February 2022; the cost of each item; the branch of the Defence Forces for which each item was procured; whether each item was identified as a priority in the commission's report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17567/26]
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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.
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’.
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.
I am unable to disclose an itemised list of all equipment purchased since the publication of the CODF report for security and operational reasons. However, a broad range of capital investment programmes/projects have been progressed over this timeframe, including, inter alia-
• The delivery of two new Airbus C-295W Maritime Patrol Aircraft in 2023, with another C-295 transport variant delivered in 2025;
• The delivery of a new strategic reach aircraft
• The delivery of two Inshore Patrol Vessels bought from the New Zealand Navy in 2023
• The renewal of the Defence Forces transport fleet;
• The investment in force protection measures;
• The upgrade of the Defence Forces secure communications infrastructure.
• Contracts have been awarded for 4 new light utility helicopters.
• The investment in next generation software defined radio systems.
• The mid life refit of the Armoured Personnel Carrier Fleet.
• Contract awarded for Towed Sonar capability for the Naval Service.
• Progress on the Military Radar Programme which is being rolled out on a phased basis, starting this year with the counter-drone technology.
I have recently published a new Strategic Framework for the Transformation of the Defence Forces and an Update to the Detailed Implementation Plan for the Commission on the Defence Forces. Since the launch of the Detailed Implementation Plan in November 2023, considerable progress has been made, with 54 of the Commission’s recommendations completed as of 31 December 2025.
I attach for your information summaries of expenditure on major equipment projects as published in the Appropriation accounts for 2022, 2023 & 2024. The 2025 Appropriation Account is expected to be published later this year.
In addition, 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 Scheme requires the Department to publish as much information as possible in an open and accessible manner on a routine basis, and financial information, procurement information and the FOI Disclosure Log is published on the Department's website in this regard.
Purchase Order reports up to and including Quarter 1 2026 are published on the Department of Defence website at the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-defence/collections/purchase-orders-over-20000/. I am advised that a small number of Purchase Orders are excluded from the published list for security and operational reasons.
If the Deputy would like further information on any of the items mentioned above my Department’s Procurement and Acquisitions Branch will be happy to assist.
