Questions

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]

210. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether any review has been conducted into the consistency of current State aviation procurement policy across the Defence Forces, Air Corps, and Garda Air Support Unit, including procurement standards, certification arrangements, operational oversight, and compliance with stated Government procurement policies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36…

211. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether the Department of Defence or Air Corps will assume responsibility for airworthiness oversight, operational certification, or regulatory assurance relating to the Airbus H145 helicopters procured for use by the Garda Air Support Unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36229/26]

292. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the expected date on which the Strategic Workforce Plan for the Defence Forces will be submitted for her consideration; whether it is intended to publish the plan in full or in part; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34126/26]

293. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether the forthcoming Strategic Workforce Plan will include defined workforce targets, timelines, and key performance indicators for each service branch, including the Air Corps; and if she will outline the nature of those targets and oversight mechanisms [34127/26]

173. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the annual number of applicants to the Reserve Defence Forces in each year from 2018 to date in 2026; the number accepted for training in each year; the number who commenced the joint induction training syllabus; the number who successfully completed that training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20333/26]

174. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the current policy targets set by her Department for the strength of the Reserve Defence Forces under the Reserve Defence Force Regeneration Plan published in July 2024; the projected strength targets for each year to 2028; and the measures being implemented to achieve the stated objective of reaching an effective strength of 80 percent. [20334/26]

175. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the average time currently required for a new Reserve Defence Forces recruit to complete the joint induction training syllabus and become fully qualified; whether her Department monitors attrition rates during this training process; if so, the attrition rate recorded in each year since the introduction of the syllabus in 2024; and if she will make a statement on …

176. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the level of annual funding allocated specifically for the development, training and equipment of the Reserve Defence Forces in each year since 2020; whether the Government intends to introduce a dedicated capital funding stream for Reserve Defence Forces capability development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20336/26]

177. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether her Department maintains structured data on the reasons for resignation or discharge from the Reserve Defence Forces, including exit interviews or retention surveys; if not, whether she intends to introduce a formal retention monitoring system to support the objectives of the Reserve Defence Force Regeneration Plan; and if she will make a statement on the…

179. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the number of procurement projects currently underway within the Defence Forces; the stage each project has reached within the capability development lifecycle; and the estimated value of each project. [20412/26]