Questions

14. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Defence her plans to improve the working and living conditions of cadets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40486/26]

15. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Defence to outline the justification for the maximum limit of 100 days in a calendar year for reservists undertaking supplemental military service (SMS) in support of Permanent Defence Force or Reserve Defence Force activities; the reason the SMS limit is capped at 100 days rather than permitting service of up to 365 days in a calendar year; and if she will make a state…

16. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Defence the way in which a reservist undertaking supplemental military service (SMS) can be deployed overseas for a period of six months, interoperating with the Permanent Defence Force, when SMS is currently limited to a maximum of 100 days in a calendar year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40528/26]

17. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Defence the way in which reservists undertaking supplemental military service (SMS) can effectively support the Permanent Defence Force during Ireland’s EU Presidency when the maximum period of SMS service available between 1 June 2026 and 31 December 2026 is limited to 58 days; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40529/26]

18. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Defence to outline whether under the new Department of Defence guidance governing supplemental military service (SMS), a reservist must now voluntarily apply for SMS and obtain prior Ministerial approval in order to undertake Reserve Defence Force (RDF) recruitment activities, RDF administrative activities or to instruct on RDF training activities; and if she will make …

323. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether she intends to publish the Strategic Workforce Plan for the Defence Forces in full; whether any sections are expected to be withheld or redacted; the rationale for any such redactions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39218/26]

324. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether the Strategic Workforce Plan contains branch-specific workforce targets for the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps; and if she will provide the projected personnel targets for each service branch for 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2030. [39219/26]

325. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether the Strategic Workforce Plan includes defined annual recruitment, retention and attrition targets for the Air Corps; and if she will provide details of same [39220/26]

328. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether the Department or Defence Forces have conducted any operational capability assessment or formal risk assessment relating to current Air Corps staffing levels; and if so, whether any risks were identified regarding operational readiness, air ambulance support, maritime surveillance capacity or aircraft availability. [39223/26]

329. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether the Air Corps is currently operating below the staffing levels considered necessary for full operational capability [39224/26]

330. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether the Strategic Workforce Plan includes branch-specific key performance indicators or measurable delivery benchmarks; and if she will outline the oversight and reporting mechanisms intended to monitor implementation of the plan. [39225/26]

331. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the number of Air Corps personnel who retired, resigned or otherwise left service in each year from 2023 to date in 2026, by rank category where available. [39226/26]

332. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether the Defence Forces maintain internal workforce modelling regarding projected shortages in specialist Air Corps roles, including pilots, engineers, air traffic personnel and technical grades; and if she will provide details at a policy level. [39227/26]

342. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether the Government intends to publish a revised national military aviation strategy or rotary-wing capability doctrine arising from the implementation of the Commission on the Future of the Defence Forces recommendations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39250/26]

343. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel, by rank that would be required to train a 30 persons Air Corps cadetship class; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39379/26]

344. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Defence the rationale behind the Defence Forces policy whereby serving personnel are required to discharge and re-enlist in order to undertake apprenticeships or Defence Forces funded education and training schemes; the reason this process necessitates the issuing of a new service number and results in the loss of accrued seniority; whether consideration has been given t…

44. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Defence to protect Irish neutrality by preserving the triple lock (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38141/26]

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]