Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 April 2026
184. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the total capital expenditure committed to Air Corps fleet replacement and upgrade programmes since 2019; whether any cost overruns have occurred; and the value-for-money assessment frameworks applied by her Department. [27817/26]
View answerMy priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Air Corps, Army, 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 Air Corps, Army, and Naval Service are considered in the context of the established capability development and Equipment Development Planning (EDP) processes.
Since 2019 the Air Corps has taken delivery of:
• 4 x Pilatus PC-12 ISTAR/ transport aircraft.
• 2 x Airbus C295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft.
• 1 x Airbus C295 Military Transport Aircraft.
• 1 x Dassault Falcon 6X Strategic Reach Aircraft.
The Department has also contracted to purchase 4 Airbus H145M Helicopters, scheduled for delivery during 2027 and 2028. This represents a total ex VAT investment of almost €435M.
The Department of Defence ensures that there is an appropriate focus on good practice in purchasing and that procedures are in place to ensure compliance with all relevant guidelines, including oversight structures to ensure that projects are delivered in accordance with agreed timelines. The procurement of goods and services by the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces is carried out in accordance with public procurement policy and national and European Union law and expenditure is made in accordance with Public Financial procedures.
Procedures are in place in respect of expenditure to provide a forum for oversight, approval and review in accordance with the Public Spending Code Infrastructure Guidelines. Specifically, a High Level Planning and Procurement Group (HLPPG), comprising of senior civil and military management of the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces, and an associated Working Group, meet on a monthly basis to evaluate all relevant procurement matters. Purchasing procedures in the Defence Organisation are kept under constant review to support good procurement practice, project management and good corporate governance.
With regard to the procurement of Air Corps assets, the rolling Equipment Development Plan (EDP) encompasses a programme of sustained equipment procurement/acquisition across the Air Corps, Army, and Naval Service as identified and prioritised in the new Strategic Framework and the recently updated Detailed Implementation Plan for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces.
This is part of the ambitious programme of work to move to Level of Ambition 2 ( LOA2) and will ensure that the Air Corps and the wider Defence Forces have the major equipment platforms, ancillary equipment and force protection equipment required to carry out their important roles both at home and overseas.
Capital funding of €1.7 billion has been allocated to Defence under the National Development Plan for the period 2026-2030. The funding represents an increase of €600 million or 55% on the previous baseline figure of €1.1 billion.
I am satisfied that the ongoing programme of prioritised sustained investment in upgrading and enhancing Air Corps capabilities will ensure that the Defence Forces continue to be suitably equipped to fulfil all roles assigned by Government.
