Carol Nolan
Ceist:
363. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 270 of 24 February 2026, the total cost of the transport vehicle body repair and recovery contract and the contract for PDF and RDF occupational and induction Part 2 medicals in each of the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28413/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra
The detailed information sought by the Deputy is not readily available within the time frame sought. The information is being compiled by my officials and I will arrange to have it forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Orders.
Dear Deputy Nolan,
I refer to Parliamentary Question 363,
which was
for answer on 21st of April 2026. This parliamentary question was deferred as the information sought was not readily available within the time frame.
As the Deputy is aware there is an ongoing shortage of qualified vehicle body repair technicians which has created a dependency on external service providers to complete critical repairs. Without outsourcing, significant delays in returning vehicles to operational service negatively impacts fleet readiness and mission support. Establishing these external contracts safeguards continuity of service and ensures value for money.
I am advised by the Defence Forces that their records show expenditure for the last 3 years of €712,425 in total. The breakdown of this amount is set out in tabular form below.
Annualised expenditure on vehicle body repair and recovery
|
Year
|
Cost
|
|
2025
|
€166,432
|
|
2024
|
€248,654
|
|
2023
|
€297,339
|
A wide range of primary care medical services, encompassing a broad array of disciplines are provided to members of the Permanent Defence Force under the auspices of the Defence Forces Medical Corps. A range of measures to ensure continuity of service of all aspects of medical care to personnel are employed, including outsourcing, contracted professionals and agency workers, as appropriate.
I am informed by the military authorities that expenditure on contract medicals for PDF/RDF 2023-2025 was €385,340 in total.
The breakdown of this amount is set out in tabular form below.
Annualised expenditure on Contract Medicals
|
Year
|
Cost
|
|
2025
|
€138,140
|
|
2024
|
€185,640
|
|
2023
|
€61,560
|
The principle of competitive tendering for Government contracts is used by the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces for the acquisition of goods and services. This is an EU law requirement and is in accordance with the Defence and Security Directive.
Central to those procedures is the requirement to allow fair competition between suppliers through the submission of tenders following advertising of the tender competition on the eTenders site and on the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU), where appropriate.
If the Deputy would like further information on the above expenditure, officials in my department will be happy to assist.
