Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 April 2026
182. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 184 of 29 January 2026, whether Ireland has been designated as having any of the approximately 500 military mobility “hotspots” identified under the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility, without disclosing their locations or any operational details; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27379/26]
View answerMilitary Mobility is an EU initiative aimed at enabling the rapid and unimpeded movement of military personnel, equipment, and assets—at scale and often on short notice—both within the EU and beyond. It also encompasses the ability to evacuate civilians during emergencies and crises. The March 2025 Joint White Paper for European Defence – Readiness 2030, together with the Defence Readiness Roadmap, designates military mobility as a key capability priority.
As part of this effort, the European Commission, working with Member States and supported by the EU Military Staff, has identified roughly 500 “hotspot” projects designed to eliminate critical bottlenecks along priority military mobility corridors across the EU. These projects involve measures such as strengthening bridges, widening tunnels, and expanding capacity at ports and airports. The Commission is expected to coordinate closely with the relevant Member States to ensure that these investments are delivered quickly and coherently across the designated corridors.
The nomination of any potential hotspot projects was led by my Department, with input from the Defence Forces and the Department of Transport. As with all participating Member States, details relating to military mobility hotspots are treated as confidential due to their sensitivity. Accordingly, no information is published regarding specific locations. Ireland remains supportive of the initiative at European level.
