Tánaiste and Minister for Defence welcomes the allocation of €1.23 billion in funding to the Defence Vote Group

Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, Micheál Martin, today welcomed the allocation of €1.23 billion in Defence funding in Budget 2024 - an increase of €21 million in current expenditure compared to 2023.

This significant level of funding will enable further progress on the transformation of the Defence Forces as outlined in the recently published Strategic Framework.

The allocation includes targeted funding for a number of key recommendations arising from the Commission on the Defence Forces (CoDF) and the Independent Review Group (IRG) such as:

€176 million in capital funding, ensuring that capital investment to be spent on Defence Forces communications systems, military transport aircraft and vehicles, force protection equipment, etc. remains at record levels
€12 million for the recruitment of 400 additional members
€13.8 million on medical care, including funding to cover private secondary healthcare to all Defence Forces personnel
€2.5 million in advertising to support an enhanced Defence Forces recruitment effort
over €4 million for additional civilian recruitment and to allow for an increased spend on external expertise and services
€3.6 million for the 2024 costs of the Tribunal of Inquiry arising from the IRG Report
the continuation of the €1,500 naval tax credit

Welcoming the additional funding, the Tánaiste said:

“The allocation of €1.23 billion in Budget 2024 further demonstrates this government’s commitment to Defence. This funding will facilitate ongoing investment in our defence capabilities along with allowing crucial progress in the transformation of the Defence Forces, as outlined in the Strategic Framework.”

Tánaiste and Minister for Defence welcomes the allocation of €1.23 billion in funding to the Defence Vote Group

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