141. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Defence for an update on her Department’s securing of a medium lift helicopter, in terms of being able to monitor our seas at speed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54266/26]

The rolling Equipment Development Plan (EDP) encompasses a programme of sustained equipment procurement/acquisition across the Air Corps, Army, and Naval Service as identified and prioritised in the Strategic Framework and the recently updated Detailed Implementation Plan for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces.

This is part of the ambitious programme of work to move to Level of Ambition 2 (LOA2) and will ensure that the Air Corps and the wider Defence Forces have the major equipment platforms, ancillary equipment and force protection equipment required to carry out their important roles both at home and overseas.

Capital funding of €1.7 billion has been allocated to Defence under the National Development Plan for the period 2026-2030. The funding represents an increase of €600 million or 55% on the previous baseline figure of €1.1 billion.

Future Air Corps projects identified within these planning processes include:

The procurement of a fleet of super-medium helicopters to replace the current fleet of AW-139 medium helicopters;

The replacement of the Pilatus PC-9M fleet of fixed-wing training aircraft.

Both of these projects are underway and are in the assessment phase in accordance with the requirements of the Infrastructure Guidelines.