Questions

330. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether any independent external consultancy, technical advisory body, or procurement specialist was engaged to advise the Department in relation to the acquisition of the four Airbus H145 helicopters; the identity of any such body; the cost of such consultancy services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37029/26]

331. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the expected operational role of the four Airbus H145 helicopters within the Air Corps fleet structure; whether the aircraft are classified by the Department as light utility helicopters, medium-lift helicopters, or otherwise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37030/26]

332. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether any further helicopter procurement programme remains under consideration by the Department in relation to medium-lift capability for the Air Corps; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37031/26]

333. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Defence if her Department has any usage policy on or if it sanctions for official purposes the use of messaging apps (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37198/26]

334. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Defence the amount spent on purchasing replacement musician instruments for Defence Forces School of Music in 2025 and to-date in 2026, in tabular form. [37276/26]

335. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Defence if she is aware of the condition of a property a person (details supplied) is residing in; if she is aware of the person's desire to regularise the tenancy arrangements with her Department in order that repairs can be undertaken, including repair of the house and possible subsidence issues that can be resolved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. …

336. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Defence to provide assurance that the State is prepared to address any potential drone attack without breaching necessary security provisions, including from AI powered drones, during Ireland's Presidency of the EU Council and the hosting of the European Political Summit. [37432/26]

337. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Defence the number of additional staff employed or that will be employed by her Department directly or under contract for the purposes of Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2026. [37449/26]

193. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Defence if her Department or any bodies and agencies under its aegis use, or have in the past used, software and-or products from a company (details supplied); the duration and cost of the contract; and the services they avail of from the company. [35862/26]

194. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Defence the number of retired Defence Force personnel who currently have their pension entitlement abated due to being employed in other sectors of the public sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35906/26]

195. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the current status of the proposed procurement of medium-lift or super medium-lift helicopters as recommended by the Commission on the Future of the Defence Forces; whether a procurement process has commenced or is planned; the estimated timeline for any such acquisition programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36007/26]

196. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether the acquisition of the four Airbus H145 helicopters is intended by the Department to satisfy, replace, defer, or partially fulfil the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of the Defence Forces relating to medium-lift helicopter capability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36008/26]

197. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether alternative rotary-wing aircraft platforms, including lower-cost light utility helicopter configurations, were evaluated during the procurement process for the four Airbus H145 helicopters; whether comparative operational, training, maintenance, lifecycle, and value-for-money assessments were conducted between aircraft categories; and if she will make a s…

198. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the primary operational rationale underpinning the selection of the Airbus H145 platform for the Air Corps; whether the procurement was principally intended to address pilot training, utility transport, air ambulance support, tactical deployment, maritime support, or multi-role operational capability requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. […

199. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether a cost-benefit analysis was conducted comparing the acquisition of a smaller number of higher-capability helicopters versus a larger number of lower-cost rotary-wing aircraft for Air Corps operational and training requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36016/26]

200. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether the Department conducted a formal operational requirements analysis prior to the acquisition of the Airbus H145 helicopters for the Air Corps; whether alternative aircraft categories or configurations were assessed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36212/26]

201. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether the lifecycle operating costs, maintenance costs, and projected service-life costs associated with the Airbus H145 helicopters were independently assessed prior to procurement approval; whether comparative modelling was undertaken against alternative rotary-wing platforms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36213/26]

202. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether the Government considered the acquisition of a larger number of lower-cost helicopters in place of a smaller number of higher-capability aircraft for pilot training, utility support, and general Air Corps operational requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36214/26]

203. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether the acquisition of the Airbus H145 helicopters forms part of a wider long-term rotary-wing fleet modernisation strategy for the Air Corps; whether additional helicopter acquisitions remain planned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36215/26]

204. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether her Department has conducted any assessment of the strategic implications arising from dependence upon foreign-origin mission systems, avionics, software, or specialist operational components in relation to the Airbus H145 fleet; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36216/26]

205. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether the Airbus H145 helicopters procured for the Air Corps are intended solely for pilot training and utility support purposes, or whether the aircraft are also intended for operational, tactical, security, force-protection, or armed support roles; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36217/26]

206. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether any weapons systems, weapons mounts, weapons integration capability, force-protection systems, or armed operational configurations have been procured, approved, planned, or considered in connection with the Airbus H145 helicopters acquired for the Air Corps; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36218/26]

207. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether Cabinet approval was specifically sought in relation to any armed operational capability, weapons integration capability, or tactical mission configuration associated with the Airbus H145 helicopters; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36219/26]

208. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether her Department has developed an operational doctrine, mission profile framework, or strategic capability assessment relating to the intended operational use of the Airbus H145 helicopters within the Air Corps; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36220/26]

209. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether the Airbus H145 helicopters acquired for the Air Corps are capable of being configured for armed operations, tactical deployment, counter-terrorism support, force protection, or special operations support; whether such capabilities formed part of the procurement assessment process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36221/26]