Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 September 2025
187. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the necessary capital spending increase needed in 2026 in order to meet level of ambition 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50859/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government approved the move to ‘Level of Ambition 2’ (LOA2), as set out in the capability framework devised by the Commission on the Defence Forces in July, 2022. This provided for a rise in the Defence budget to €1.5 billion, in 2022 prices, by 2028, as part of the annual Estimates process.
The revised NDP Capital allocation for the Defence Vote Group for the period 2026-2030 is €1.7 billion. This represents an increase of €600 million (55%) on the previous baseline of €1.1 billion and provides Defence with almost one billion in capital funding to 2028. For 2026, the Defence capital allocation will increase by €85 million to €300 million, the highest allocation to date.
The revised capital allocations will enable targeted progression on key elements of Government commitments within LOA 2 (Enhanced Capability) objectives, as outlined in the Commission on the Defence Forces Report.
Capital Investment in Defence primarily provides for the renewal, retention and acquisition of major defence equipment and infrastructural platforms – expenditure which enhances and supports military capabilities and therefore contributes to a more secure and resilient society.
As Defence capital expenditure is often atypical, with long lead-in times, the funding certainty now in place will complement internal equipment and infrastructural planning frameworks, tasked with progressing a significant pipeline of priority infrastructural and equipment projects.
As outlined in parallel with the publication of revised multi-annual allocations, Defence is currently re-evaluating all its strategic equipment and infrastructural priorities to align with the revised 2026 annual capital allocation provided - with specific details on sectoral investment plans to be published later this year.
