Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 September 2026
237. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Defence her response to recent media reports that soldiers’ rations, radar systems and naval guns are among a number of areas to be curtailed by Defence Forces to meet military spending cuts. [68827/26]
View answerThe Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform & Digitisation (DPEIPSRD) advised my Department that a levy of €12 million would apply to current expenditure on the Defence Vote. This levy is applicable to 2027, and not 2026 expenditure. In that regard, Budget 2027 processes remain ongoing, with discussions continuing on a range of financial matters in advance of the publication of agreed 2027 budgetary allocations on Budget Day.
Media reports are inaccurate and merely speculation in advance of Budget 2027. No levy is applicable to capital expenditure which has been set out in the National Development Plan. Equally, I have decided that the Defence pay will not be subject to this levy.
It is worth noting, that Defence has been provided with significant funding increases over recent years, with the 2026 Defence Vote Group allocation of €1.492 billion now €385m (35%) greater than the corresponding 2022 allocation. Alongside this, the Government has provided a record €1.7 billion for capital investment in Defence out to 2030. This is an increase of €600 million, or 55%, on the previous baseline of €1.1 billion and is the most significant capital investment package in the Defence Forces in the history of the State.
I can confirm that there has been no cut to rations for newly commissioned Defence Forces Officers undertaking full time fulltime third level courses in the University of Galway.
Young officers attending these third level courses can avail of meals in Barracks at the following cost - Breakfast - €2.50, Lunch - €3.50, Dinner - €4.50.
Such Officers are also provided with accommodation. The cost of accommodation ranges from €24.35 per month to €40.20 per month, depending on the rank of the Officer.
The Officers also receive full salary for the duration of the course. Starting salaries of a newly commissioned officer range from €46,823 to €52,265 per annum. In addition all college fees are paid for the officers in question.
