138. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Defence the way in which the Defence Forces are expanding their capacity for delivering military operations in the cyber domain; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54044/26]

Deputy thank you for the question. The Defence Forces Cyber-Defence Strategy 2024 to 2027 was published, in 2024. This Strategy sets out a comprehensive road map to ensure that the Defence Forces achieve operational capability in this domain.

There are 16 strategic priorities contained in the Defence Forces Cyber Defence Strategy. The top 4 of which are:

To prevent and defend against cyber-attacks on Defence Forces’ networks.

To develop a comprehensive programme of training, in cyber related subjects.

To identify and protect critical defence infrastructure and increase resilience to cyber-attacks.

To conduct ongoing risk assessments to evaluate the potential impact and likelihood of cyber-attacks on Defence Forces’ networks.

The Joint Cyber Defence Command is designed to conduct full-spectrum cyber operations, enabling the Defence Forces to defend robustly against cyber threats, support their operations both at home and overseas, and enhance resilience in the cyber domain.

My department is working with the Public Appointments Service to recruit civilian cyber specialists who will be integrated into the Joint Cyber Defence Command. It is intended that these positions will be filled as soon as possible. To date, the Public Appointments Service has launched a campaign for the role of Principal Officer and Cyber Lead. Competitions have also been initiated for roles on cyber threat intelligence and cyber resilience.

In addition, officials from my Department and the Defence Forces continue to engage closely with relevant Government Departments and agencies, including the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration and the National Cyber Security Centre, which has lead responsibility for cyber security in Ireland. This engagement supports ongoing work to assess risks and address challenges in the cyber domain.

The development of the Joint Cyber Defence Command, together with the implementation of the Defence Forces Cyber Defence Strategy 2024–2027 and the recruitment of specialist civilian expertise, represents an important step in strengthening the State’s defence cyber capability and resilience.

To support this new Command Unit, my Department approved the development of a dedicated IT Operations and Cyber Security Block in McKee Barracks to provide the necessary high-end infrastructure requirements for operations in the cyber domain. The works contract for this project was awarded on 15th May of this year and construction is now underway at a cost of €2.6m, with completion expected March 2027.

This facility will provide for the increasing requirements of the new Joint Cyber Defence Command as well as existing CIS requirements.