Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 September 2025
173. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the estimated cost of resourcing the capability development 14-year land, maritime, air, cyber and joint enabler programmes to ensure the Defence Forces realise Level of Ambition 2, in line with the Government-approved Detailed Implementation Plan. [49563/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government.
Capital funding of €1.7 billion has been allocated to Defence Development Plan for the period 2026-2030. The funding is an increase of €600 million (announced 23rd July in the National Development Plan) or 55% on the previous baseline figure of €1.1 billion. This significant increase reflects the government’s commitment to continue to increase investment in our Defence Forces. The Department of Defence and the Defence Forces will, over the coming months, review all strategic equipment and infrastructural priorities to align with the revised 2026-2030 multi-annual capital allocations. It will enable targeted progression on key elements of government commitments within Level of Ambition 2 (Enhanced Capability) objectives, as outlined in the Commission on the Defence Forces Report.
The civil/military staffed Capability Development Unit, established in 2023 in response to a recommendation in the Commission on the Defence Forces to implement a top down Capability Development Planning Process, are preparing a Capability Development Programme, that will identify, at a high level, the Capability requirements for the Defence Forces out to 2040. This ongoing piece of work, once complete, will inform the prioritisation of capabilities the Defence Forces will progress in moving towards the strategic level of ambition set out in the Defence Policy Review. This will be in line with the capital allocation under the National Development Plan. To this end, the priority continues to be progressing to LOA 2 thereby providing the foundations for future developments in capability.
