Written Answers Nos. 303-310
303. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Defence the nature of refurbishment works carried out at Stephen's Barracks, Kilkenny, in the years 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; if each capital works project is completed or still ongoing at present; and the new refurbishment works that will commence during the first half of 2026 at these barracks. [73321/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI thank the Deputy for providing me with the opportunity to outline the investments that have been made under the Infrastructure Development Plan in Stephen’s Barracks Kilkenny.
There is one capital project currently ongoing in Stephens Barracks, details of which is set out below:
|
Project |
Estimated Cost incl. VAT |
Expected Completion |
|
New Barrack Accountant Facility |
€627,405 |
Q1 2026 |
|
Total |
€627,405 |
|
The Deputy may also wish to note that the following two projects are scheduled to be developed in the near future:
• Construction of a New Military Equipment Store, Locker Block & Ablutions Facility
• Upgrade O/Ranks Accommodation Blocks A-F
Design Teams have been appointed for the above two projects and the full determination of the complete Project Briefs are currently being carried out.
The following capital works have been completed to date since the launch of the Infrastructure Development Plan.
|
Year |
Projects |
Total Funding (Capital and Design Team Costs)€m |
|
2024 |
Stephens Barracks, Refurbishment of Block C - completion March 2024 |
€0.78 |
|
2022 |
Kilkenny underground site services |
€0.73 |
|
2021 |
Construction of a new gymnasium at Stephens Barracks, Kilkenny |
€3.7 |
In addition, my Department also allocates funding each year to the Defence Forces for the maintenance, repair and upkeep of its building stock. This year a devolved budget of €12.5 million was assigned by my Department to the Defence Forces for these tasks. The individual prioritisation of specific projects to be carried out is solely a matter for the Defence Forces in keeping with the delegated nature of this budget.
304. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Defence the number of current members of the Reserve Defence Force; the measures she has put in place to attract new members; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73352/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra305. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Defence the recruitment programme for the Reserve Defence Force for 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73614/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 304 and 305 together.
The military authorities have advised that, as at 30th November 2025, the strength of the First Line Reserve was 206 personnel and the strength of the Second Line Reserve, was 1,618 personnel. 117 individuals have been inducted as of 5th December, with a further 278 individuals currently undertaking pre-induction training.
One of my key goals as Minister for Defence, is the ongoing modernisation of our Defence Forces and a vital part of this transformation process is the revitalising of the Reserve Forces, as identified and recommended by the Commission on the Defence Forces.
In that context, the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) Regeneration and Development Plan coordinates 27 individual actions that continue to drive forward recruitment and retention; resourcing; training and education; as well as integration and deployment.
Examples of recruitment measures that maintain momentum in support this objective include the increase in upper recruitment and mandatory retirement ages; implementation of a ‘managed Induction Process’ and the on boarding process which enables candidates to undergo pre-attestation recruit training.
Additionally, a significant RDF awareness campaign is currently at an advanced stage of development and is designed to raise the public’s awareness of the opportunities available in, and enhance recruitment into, the RDF. This campaign, expected to launch in Q1 2026, will see a comprehensive advertising campaign coordinated across all media, including television and radio adverts.
There is body of work underway by the Defence Forces in relation to workforce planning, which will dovetail with recruitment planning in 2026.
The initiatives contained in the RDF Regeneration and Development Plan are generating positive change and increased momentum towards a regenerated, trained and capable RDF to support the Permanent Defence Forces and the work in 2026 will build on that success.
306. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Defence the recruitment programme for the Permanent Defence Force for 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73615/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the military authorities that, as of the 31 October 2025, the latest date such figures are available for, the strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) stood at 7,760 personnel consisting of 6,237 Army, 739 Air Corps and 784 Naval Service personnel respectively.
In order to meet government targets, the Defence Forces are making concerted efforts to increase recruitment. A total of 728 inductions to the Permanent Defence Force has been achieved to the end of October which exceeds the 708 inductions recorded in 2024 and I understand that the Defence Forces are targeting in excess of 750 inductions by year end. In addition, interest in a career in the Defence Forces remains notably high with further growth again this year in the number of applications received. A total of 14,879 applications have been received to the end of October this year which represents an 11% increase on the 13,348 applications received for all of 2024.
Government has introduced a range of key enabling measures to support and drive Defence Forces recruitment and retention. These include increases in the maximum ages of recruitment and retirement respectively, the extension of private secondary healthcare to all personnel and the application of the provisions of the Working Time Directive across the Defence Forces subject to certain exemptions. The Patrol Duty allowance payable to Naval Service personnel at sea has been doubled after ten days at sea in a calendar year while the Naval Service tax credit has been extended for a further five years.
There is body of work underway by the Defence Forces in relation to workforce planning, which will dovetail with recruitment planning in 2026.
There has also been significant progress on pay with a further pay award due in February of next year.
To support the achievement of these and other measures, Budget 2026 has provided a record allocation of €1.49 billion for the Defence Sector, an increase of €145 million on 2025. These funds include provision for the recruitment of a net 400 additional PDF members per annum.
Though challenges undoubtedly remain, the allocation of record levels of expenditure, coupled with the recruitment and retention initiatives currently in train, is indicative of the government's commitment to Defence.
307. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Defence the progress to date in upgrading accommodation for members of the Permanent Defence Force; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73619/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise the Deputy that since the launch of the Infrastructure Development Plan in January 2020, the following accommodation projects at a combined cost of approximately €49.7m have been completed and 775 beds provided:
• Casement Aerodrome Modular Accommodation
• Gormanston Camp – Upgrade Block A
• Haulbowline Refurbishment of Block 4
• Upgrade of Former USAC Building, Renmore
• New Accommodation Block Collins Barracks
• Gormanston Camp- Upgrade Block B
• Refurbishment of Block C, Stephen’s Barracks
• Refurbishment of Block H, McKee Barracks
• Refurbishment of Block 8, Haulbowline
• Refurbishment of Blocks B and D of Pearse Barracks
• Refurbishment of Plunkett Block 7, DFTC
• Refurbishment of Blocks 1 & 2 Cathal Brugha
• Refurbishment of Apprentice Hostel, Casement Aerodrome
The Deputy may also wish to note that the following accommodation projects are being progressed and are expected to significantly increase accommodation capacity in the coming years:
• Refurbishment of Block 1, Collins Barracks
• Refurbishment of Old Communications Building, Haulbowline
• Refurbishment of Cadet Mess Building Haulbowline
• Haulbowline – Refurbishment of Block 6
• Haulbowline – New Modular Accommodation Block
• Refurbishment of Blocks A, B, D, E & F, Stephens Barracks
• DFTC, Refurbishment of Ceannt Block 1
• Casement Aerodrome – Refurbishment of Old Married Quarters to Single Living-In Accommodation
A further €12.5m is being provided to the Defence Forces on a fully delegated basis for the purposes of maintenance of the current building stock.
308. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Defence the progress to date in implementing the recommendations of the report of the commission on the Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73620/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Commission on the Defence Forces was established on foot of a commitment in the Programme for Government, and its report was published on the 9th of February 2022.
There were 130 recommendations in total, comprising 69 main recommendations, with 61 further sub recommendations. The Commission recommended significant changes for the Defence Forces and Defence provision in Ireland. It covered high-level Defence Forces structures, defence capabilities, organisation, culture and human resources, the Reserve Defence Force and funding.
Given the significant recommendations contained in the Report, detailed consideration of these recommendations was undertaken with a High Level Action Plan (HLAP) and a Memo for Government brought to Government and approved on July 12th 2022. This involved the approval of a move to ‘Level of Ambition 2’ (LOA2) by 2028, as set out in the capability framework devised by the Commission on the Defence Forces. This will result in the Defence budget rising from €1.1 billion to €1.7billion, as per capital allocation under the National Development Plan (2026–2030), the largest increase in Defence funding in the history of the State. This will allow for the required substantial transformation and investment in recruitment and equipment that were identified by the Commission.
The Detailed Implementation Plan for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, was published on 21 November 2023.
Much progress has been achieved since the Commission’s report was published, with 48 recommendations now fully implemented. The recommendations implemented to-date have had a significant impact on members of the Defence Forces.
The following achievements have been delivered this year alone:
• The blanket exclusion of the Defence Forces from the Working Time Directive has been removed.
• Revised ATCP priorities, structures and resources have been implemented.
• Regular climate and continuous attitude surveys have been conducted and continue on an ongoing basis.
• A Non-financial ‘labour hours budget’ was introduced.
• Phase 1 of the Sub Sea Domain Awareness (SSDA) Contract was awarded.
• A public consultation on Ireland’s first Maritime Security Strategy was launched, as part of the preparation of the Strategy this year.
• Additional Civil and Military assignments were made to the Capability Development Unit, deepening the knowledge and experience within the unit for delivery of key projects.
• The delivery of a third C295 aircraft.
• The increased use of Direct Entry Recruitment into Specialist Posts in the Permanent Defence Forces.
• The establishment of the Office of Veteran Affairs.
I intend to bring an updated Implementation Plan for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces to Government in early 2026.The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides both universal and income-assessed subsidies to help parents to meet the cost of early learning and childcare. All families can receive a universal subsidy, but the highest subsides are provided to families with the lowest levels of income through the income-assessed subsidy.
In 2026, as committed to in Shaping the Future: the Early Years Action Plan, Phase 1 Report, the income-assessed thresholds for the NCS will increase, improving the affordability of childcare for up to 47,000 children from lower income families.
This investment will support lower income households to access higher subsidies to offset the cost of early learning and childcare. The lower threshold will increase from €26,000 to €34,000 and the higher threshold from €60,000 to €68,000.
The multiple child discount component of the income-assessed subsidy will also be increased - from €4,300 to €5,500 for families with 2 children and from €8,600 to €11,000 for families with 3 or more children.
Through increasing the NCS Income-Assessed thresholds, families whose reckonable income falls within the new thresholds will receive a higher subsidy, as they will move to a higher income-assessed rate, according to their individual circumstances. Increasing the Multiple Child Discount will further reduce the reckonable income for families with 2 or more children, allowing them to receive a higher subsidy, thereby reducing the cumulative burden of cost.
Most families currently receiving an income-assessed subsidy will see an increase in their rate, due to these changes. This investment will also support additional families to move from their existing universal rate to an income-assessed subsidy.
This measure is key to assisting the Government in addressing child poverty, and aligns with the current relative income poverty rate for families with children, as per Social Justice Ireland data.
309. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Defence if further consideration will be given to the re-opening of Dún Uí Néill Barracks, Cavan, as a forward operating base as that region has a long land border with a neighbouring jurisdiction, taking into account that in the past the presence locally of army personnel played a very important role in the security of the State, and the much changed and dangerous security situation in Europe and elsewhere; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73634/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra310. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Defence if, in view of the lack of an army barracks in the central border area, if further consideration will be given to the re-opening of Dún Uí Néill, Cavan, as an army barracks; taking into account the recommendation of the commission on the Defence Forces that the structure of the army be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73635/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 309 and 310 together.
As Minister for Defence, I am deeply committed to the transformation of the Defence Forces into a modern fit for purpose organisation to defend the State and meet the challenges of today and the future.
The Commission on the Defence Forces undertook a significant body of work, encompassing wide-ranging terms of reference in its report published in 2022. It recommended significant changes for the Defence Forces and Defence provision in Ireland. It covers high level Defence Forces structures, defence capabilities, organisation, culture and human resources, the Reserve Defence Force and funding.
There are a number of Government approved, Commission recommendations contained in the report which may impact on the structure of the Defence Forces including that the structure of the Army be reviewed, and in that context, the disposition of Units across the Defence Forces may be considered.
No decisions on the future disposition or locations of Defence Forces formations, installations and personnel have been made at this time.
In keeping with the recommendations of the Commission on the Defence Forces, the Defence Forces have established an office of Army Force Design and an overarching strategic force design office, which has begun to undertake the significant work required to give effect to this recommendation.
It should also be noted that the geopolitical environment, which has changed substantially since the Commission on the Defence Forces reported, will also have to be factored into a future force design.
On completion of the force design work by the Defence Forces and other work, the Chief of Staff will submit a report on Force Design to me for review. Designing a structure for a modern force of Ireland's size taking into account the Defence Forces roles and capabilities required to deliver these roles is complicated and challenging work which we need to get right to ensure that we design a modern force which is fit for purpose for future generations.
Currently there are no plans to consider the former Dún Uí Néill site in Cavan as a forward operating base, which is now the Education and Training Facility for Cavan Institute.
