Written answer
Defence Forces
165. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Defence if she will report on the planned €400 million investment in Defence Forces infrastructure under the revised NDP. [53895/26]
Comment on this
In December last year, I was very pleased to announce the record allocation of €1.7 billion in NDP capital funding for Defence from now until 2030. This represents an increase of €600 million (55%) on the previous baseline of €1.1 billion. For 2026, the Defence capital allocation has increased by €66 million to €300 million. This is a clear demonstration of the government’s commitment to enhancing the capabilities, equipment and accommodation for our Defence Forces.
The Defence Forces Infrastructure Development Plan (IDP) currently sets out a programme of infrastructural project delivery to 2027. It reflects the complex environment in which the Defence Forces operate and the corresponding need for appropriate infrastructure to provide for the accommodation and training of personnel, as well as the maintenance and storage of equipment.
In order to progress Defence Forces infrastructural projects more efficiently and deliver economies of scale, my Department is currently developing a series of infrastructural masterplans. These masterplans will identify the infrastructure requirements for each installation along with an associated prioritisation schedule and a phased timeline for delivery. These plans will dovetail with developments identified under the current IDP and will also lay out requirements for the years from 2027 onwards.
Over the 2026-2030 timeframe of the Defence NDP, I have committed €400 million in funding for infrastructural investment, a level of funding which will deliver enhanced accommodation, offices, gyms etc to military installations nationwide, together with more targeted investment on the development of specific requirements such as aircraft hangars and naval berthage capacity.
The capital allocation for 2025 stood at €50m for capital investment with a further €12.5m allocation for ongoing maintenance and running costs.
This year the allocation has risen to €69.5m, including an amount of €2m provided in delegated sanction to the Defence Forces for smaller scale projects. A further €13.5m is also provided for the Defence Forces delegated maintenance budget.