Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Question:104. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Defence the estimated cost of establishing an intelligence school, as per the CODF; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52826/26]
View answerTuesday, 14 July 2026
Questions (104)
Written answers
The report of the Commission on the Defence Forces contains a number of military intelligence-related recommendations, including the development of an Intelligence School.
The establishment of the Defence Forces Intelligence School, which will form part of a Defence Academy, is being progressed, with current activity focussed on the development of the school’s organisation and resourcing including staffing requirements and instructional capabilities. In addition, the design, validation and delivery of specialist training curriculum for the Defence Forces is ongoing to support the professionalisation of Defence Forces intelligence capabilities.
The estimated infrastructural cost of the development of the Defence Academy, which it is planned will also include a number of additional elements, will be identified during the development of a masterplan for the Defence Forces Training Centre. It will not be possible to disaggregate the cost of the construction of the Intelligence School from that overall cost.
For security reasons, it would not be appropriate to provide further details of the costs associated with the development on the Intelligence School, including in relation to staffing costs etc.
The Updated Detailed Implementation Plan for the Commission on the Defence Forces foresees that the Intelligence School will be operational by the beginning of 2028.