145. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Defence the extent of her Department's engagement with the Centre for Robotics and Intelligent Systems (CRIS) at the University of Limerick; the details of all projects at CRIS for which funding is currently being provided by her Department; the plans to expand strategic funding for field robotics innovation; her plans to visit the facility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54117/26]

My Department, through the Defence Research, Technology and Innovation (RTI) Unit has been engaged with the Centre for Robotics and Intelligent Systems (CRIS Lab) since 2021, through initiatives such as Enterprise Ireland's Disruptive Technology Innovation Fund and the Research Ireland Defence Innovation Challenge.

As of 2026, the Department of Defence is not currently funding any active projects through the CRIS Lab however, it has, in recent years provided co-funding to two projects under the 2024 Research Ireland Defence Innovation Challenge. The SeaDom and Oversight projects each received a total of €20,000 to support them through the Concept Phase of the programme, co-funded by both the Department of Defence and Research Ireland.

The SeaDom (Sea-Surface and Subsea Dark Object Detection and Mitigation) and Oversight (Innovation Detection System for Dark Vessels to Enhance Maritime Security in Ireland's Waters) projects were funded through the 2024 Research Ireland Defence Innovation Challenge under the Maritime Domain Awareness Challenge area.

SeaDom focussed on the creation of an Unmanned Sub-Surface Vessel (USSV) that can be deployed from ports or tethered from ships to provide information on dark vessels or detect contraband. Separately, the Oversight project focussed on the development of tethered drone installations around coastal perimeters that can detect dark vessels within 40km of shore.

As the Research Ireland Defence Innovation Challenge is a stage-gated process, pending the recommendations of an independent international review panel, these projects were not selected to progress beyond the Concept Phase of the programme. Therefore, no further funding was provided to these projects beyond the €20,000 funding allocated to support teams through the Concept Phase.

Separately, my Department has supported the GUARD project, funded through Enterprise Ireland's Disruptive Technology Innovation Fund (DTIF) for a 36-month period from 1st July 2021 to 31st June 2024. The GUARD project was developed to support drug interdiction by utilising smart drones.

On 6th November 2025, my Department was represented at a Stakeholders Workshop on The Future of Marine and Aerial Robotics in Ireland, hosted by the CRIS Lab at the University of Limerick. The event brought together more than twenty senior representatives from government, national agencies, industry, and academia to assess Ireland’s current and future needs in field robotics. The workshop highlighted the critical role of robotic marine and aerial systems in addressing national priorities including offshore renewable energy, maritime security, environmental monitoring, climate resilience, and emergency response.

My Department is reviewing a proposal drafted by the CRIS Lab for the establishment of a National Lab for Marine and Aerial Field Robotics. This proposal invites national policy makers, in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, along with the Department of Defence, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Department of Transport, Department of Climate, Energy and Environment, and the Department of Culture, Communication and Sports to recognise the strategic opportunity presented by CRIS and support its transformation into Ireland’s National Lab for Marine and Aerial Field Robotics. This proposal is welcome, however careful consideration and collaboration with other key departments and stakeholders will be required.

My most recent correspondence with representatives of the CRIS Lab, highlighted their continued engagement and collaboration with the Defence Forces and furthermore I have expressed an interest in visiting the CRIS Lab this year subject to availability.