2026-02-17

150. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Defence if she will report on the revised NDP defence sectoral plan for the period 2026 to 2030; the way in which defence infrastructure in Louth will benefit from this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12179/26]

Deputy Smith will ask the next question, Ceist Uimh. 150.

First, I apologise for the absence of Deputy McGreehan, who has another commitment that clashed with the timing of questions here. Three of us here, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, the Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, and I, are from the north east and any investment in Louth is important for our respective counties as well. Of course, I am thinking of Aiken Barracks, Dundalk, where many people from my constituency serve as well. It is important for County Meath as well. I sincerely hope that where investment is needed in that key military installation it would be forthcoming.

Last December, I was pleased to announce the record allocation of €1.7 billion in the NDP capital funding for defence from now until 2030. This represents an increase of €600 million or 55% on the previous baseline of €1.1 billion. For 2026, the defence capital allocation has increased by €66 million to €300 million. Obviously, we want every barracks and every area to be able to benefit from that spending. It is a clear demonstration of the Government's commitment to enhancing the capabilities, equipment and accommodation for our Defence Forces. This capital investment in defence primarily supports the renewal, retention and acquisition of major defence equipment and the development of defence infrastructure and is a clear demonstration of the Government's commitment to delivering what we all spoke of here - modern Defence Forces capable of responding to what is an increasingly complex security environment that we live in. The infrastructure development plan, IDP, sets out a programme of project delivery to 2027, reflecting the complex environment in which the Defence Forces operate and the corresponding need for appropriate infrastructure. In order to progress the infrastructural projects more efficiently and deliver economies of scale, we are currently developing a series of infrastructural master plans. These plans will identify the infrastructure requirements for each installation along with an associated prioritisation schedule. These plans will dovetail with developments identified under the current plan and will also lay out requirements from 2027 onwards. As the Deputy outlined, Louth has an extremely proud tradition in the Defence Forces. Aiken Barracks is an incredibly valued barracks for the people of Dundalk and for the surrounding areas. As a County Meath woman, obviously, it is close to me also. Within existing IDP structures, a central heating upgrade and the installation of new electric vehicle charging points have recently been delivered to Aiken Barracks, with a dining hall upgrade currently ongoing. Work is also ongoing on the new dining facility and all of this will be completed in 2026 at a cost of €5.6 million. This will replace the catering infrastructure currently used by Defence Forces military and civilian staff and includes a kitchen, front-of-house dining facilities and co-located ration storage. It is essential, particularly when so much of our infrastructure and so many of our barracks are old. They need that kind of investment. It is important that we are investing in the day-to-day workings, where they are eating or sleeping, and where they are doing their training, because it is an investment directly in the men and women of the Defence Forces.

I thank the Minister for her response. Our colleague, Deputy McGreehan, will be glad to hear of the Minister's commitment to further investment in Aiken Barracks. I am glad that the Minister emphasised that accommodation needs to be upgraded. As a member of the then Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence some years ago, I had the opportunity to visit some barracks and I have to say I was very disappointed with the quality of some of the living accommodation. In the meantime, I had a lot of engagement with the Taoiseach, as Minister for Defence, and with the Tánaiste, as Minister for Defence. Both of them had directed substantial additional funding - much necessary investment - in living accommodation and in the general barracks. As the Minister said, people are working in that environment. They are living in that environment. Most people nowadays come from homes that are of a good quality. I have heard young recruits go into some of the barracks and to be fair about it, their living accommodation was not acceptable. I know the barracks. It takes huge investment. They are old buildings. It is not easy to upgrade them. It costs a lot of money but it is a very necessary investment in our Permanent Defence Force. It acts as an attractive measure if there is decent living accommodation while a person is being upskilled and being trained to be a member of our Defence Forces.

I fully agree. If we want to not only attract people to the Defence Forces but to retain them, we need to make sure the environment that they are working and training in is fit for purpose and insofar as possible, that it is as modern as it can be. When you look at the next NDP and the capital plan for defence, we have €300 million being spent in 2026. In the next few years, it is rising to €360 million. When you break that down further and you look at how much we are investing in what we have just discussed, there will be €400 million of investment in infrastructure. This includes accommodation, offices and gyms. You then have aircraft hangers and naval berthage but I have seen in Gormanston, which is in my constituency, the investment that is taking place where members will be sleeping, eating, going to the gym, doing their day-to-day activities and their duties. There is a real commitment here to invest directly in the physical built environment and infrastructure. Of course, I want to be able to do more because we know that there are many more barracks that need to see that overall investment. As I said, the intention is that every barracks and every area will benefit from the significant increase. If more money can be found, obviously, more money can be invested as well.

I thank the Minister for her response. Deputy Timmins quite rightly referred to investment in cybersecurity. We all agree with that and we know the urgency of it. In the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces of 2022, the preferred enlistment is 11,500 by 2028. That is the target that was outlined in that report. To cater for that enlistment that I sincerely hope will be reached and exceeded, additional accommodation is needed. The most modern barracks in Europe was Dún Uí Néill, Cavan, which, unfortunately, was closed in 2012. The buildings are still there intact. Quite a number of them are not being used for any particular purpose. I put forward to the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach, both of them in the Department of Defence, that that particular military installation should be utilised again by the State for defence purposes. I do not expect the Minister to answer on this specifically this evening. There was a huge corporate knowledge acquired by members of the Defence Forces when they were based in Dún Uí Néill Barracks in Cavan right through the central Border area. As the Minister will be aware, the military barracks is Finner Camp in south Donegal and there is nothing in the central Border region until we go over to the east, to Aiken Barracks.

Thanks, Deputy.

What I have suggested, and some of the senior Army personnel at a committee said should be considered, and I would hope the Minister would ask her Department officials to consider, is that Dún Uí Néill could be opened again as a forward operating base-----

Thanks, Deputy.

-----where members of the Defence Forces could acquaint themselves with the topography and detailed knowledge of that Border region because we are in a difficult security situation and we never know what is ahead of us.

Deputy Ó Murchú has a supplementary.

We have already spoken about the issues in relation to retention and recruitment. It is necessary that resourcing, training, and particularly buildings, barracks and living accommodation would be up to scratch and we need to ensure that we see delivery in relation to Aiken Barracks. Aiken Barracks has huge history. It has huge connection with Dundalk, and particularly that area in The Quay, where it is situated, and the 27th Infantry Battalion. There is a huge level of respect for those in the Defence Forces. I have a question, obviously, for Dundalk and those involved with the military in Dundalk, and family particularly, on the sad loss of Private Seán Rooney. I would be grateful if I could get an update in relation to the Minister's engagements with the Lebanese and in relation to the necessity of finding justice for the late Private Rooney.

I will try to touch on a number of issues raised. At present, our strength is 7,756 personnel. It is an increase of almost 200 on the previous year. While it is modest, we need to continue with that particular trajectory and I want to build on that progress achieved. I have set a target of 850 inductions for this year. It is important that when we are talking about investment, we are not only talking about investment in the capital side of things. There are other ways in which, through current spending, we are able to invest and support the work of the personnel who are there. We have €10 million to facilitate new Defence Forces uniforms, which is really important to make sure that we are supporting what they get up and get dressed into every day. There is €10 million in support for Air Corps fleet maintenance, as well as airfield and training costs. That allows them to carry out their duties and work. There is funding for a number of other strategic priorities. Digital transformation, which is absolutely key and will be essential, is something that the Defence Force members themselves are keen to see advance in their work. There is maritime security, national societal preparedness and resilience campaign initiatives. All of this funding is supporting the work that they do. It is not only about investing in the physical infrastructure, which is really important, but ensuring that they are enabled to do the work that they need to do is essential as well. When it comes to Private Rooney, this is a case that I myself have raised directly with Lebanese officials. I hope to meet with his mother very soon, but I am conscious of how difficult and distressing a situation it is. I have been clear in my raising this very recently that we need to find answers and that we need to find a resolution for his family. Of course, there were others who were involved in the incident itself. I want to acknowledge that and acknowledge the difficulty for their families too.