Fianna Fáil TD for Cork North West, Aindrias Moynihan, says an increase in Defence Forces funding to €1.5bn by 2028 is a welcome step in the right direction towards enhancing our Defence Forces, with an increase in personnel numbers of 2,000 expected.
Deputy Moynihan commented, “I welcome the details of this proposed funding increase today. I have been raising with the Minister for Defence the issue of funding and increased support for our Defence Forces on several occasions in Dáil Eireann.
“I have appealed to the Minister for consideration to be given to increasing the wage of Irish Defence Forces personnel to bring it in line with European Union counterparts and in response to increased inflation.
“Elsewhere, staffing issues in the Irish Naval Service have been another matter I have brought to the Minister’s attention.”
The Cork North West TD continued: “The Commission report on the future of the Defence Forces recommended a range of significant changes to support and enhance our Defence Forces into the future.
“I’m pleased to see this increase in funding being brought before Cabinet today. There has been a detailed consultation and engagement with all the key stakeholders to formulate this response to the commission's recommendations.
“The Government has committed to approving a High Level Action Plan, and noted the urgent need for HR and cultural transformation. This is welcome news for Defence Forces personnel and their families.”
It has been approved to move over a six-year period to a level of Defence Forces’ capability equivalent to ‘Level of Ambition 2’ (LOA2), which will entail funding increases to reach a defence budget of c. €1.5 billion.
Commencement of planning for military radar capabilities, including primary radar, and an increase in personnel numbers of 2,000 over the current establishment of 9,500.
Government will Immediately progress the pay structure measures, including, Removal of the requirement for a Private 3 Star/Able Seaman to ‘mark time’ for the first three years at that rank, and Payment of the full rate of Military Service Allowance (MSA) applicable to the rank of all Private 3 Star/Able Seaman personnel.