Departmental Expenditure

Tuesday, 21 April 2026

Ceisteanna (357)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

357. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 270 of 24 February 2026, the total expenditure incurred by the Defence Forces on all outsourced services listed in her reply in each of the years 2023, 2024 and 2025; the projected expenditure for 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28407/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Defence

The Defence Forces have been requested by my Department to provide the information sought in relation to outsourced services within the Defence Forces.

As this request necessitates the collation, examination and evaluation of a substantial volume of material within a limited timeframe, it has not been possible to respond within the timelines specified.

I will provide a full response to the Deputy as soon as the required information has been received and evaluated.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Orders.

As addressed in Questions 318 and 319 of 19 May, 2026 on Army, Air Corps & Naval Service outsourcing costs related to 2023, 2024 & 2025 and estimated costs for 2026, the Defence Forces have provided the following information to my Department relating to delegated subhead expenditure.

Defence Forces - Outsourcing Costs

Service	2023	2024	2025
Air Corps	€12,961,693	€13,283,620	€13,132,796
Army	€8,414,267	€10,892,251	€14,148,645
Naval Service	€5,487,295	€8,211,947	€7,758,847
Total	€26,863,255	€32,387,818	€35,040,288

Decisions to outsource services are considered within robust internal planning frameworks and, at all times, seek to strike the optimum balance between security, capability, cost and operational effectiveness. In that regard ongoing 2026 outsourcing costs, which are embedded across all subheads are not yet available but are projected to be broadly in line with 2025.

Where duties and services have been outsourced on a short-term basis, the Defence Forces have engaged external service providers to enhance capacity or to perform the duty or service due to temporary personnel or skills shortages. The intention would be to revert to the duty or service being performed in-house when feasible. With regard to services that have been outsourced on a long-term basis, there are no immediate plans to have these functions undertaken by the Defence Forces as it would not represent value for money to deliver these services in house.

These approaches and structures are further complemented and strengthened by ongoing reviews undertaken by an independent Internal Audit Unit and robust external scrutiny, both ongoing and periodic, from, inter alia, the Comptroller and Auditor General, the Public Accounts Committee and the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform & Digitisation. Collectively, this comprehensive approach to governance enhances transparency, safeguards public funding, and ensures that all Defence spending is well-managed and compliant with applicable public financial and procurement procedures.