Sir, - Christopher Dorman O'Gowan (October 16th) seems to be out of touch with recent developments in the modernisation of the Defence Forces.
At the launch of the first White Paper on Defence earlier this year the Minister announced that an extra £250 million would be available for investment in Defence Forces' equipment over the next 10 years. This unprecedented funding is in addition to the monies allocated annually by the Oireachtas for equipment purchases and maintenance.
Much of the equipment currently in use is the best available in the world, particularly light arms, transport and communications equipment. The first batch of 40 new armoured personnel carriers will shortly be delivered and specifications are being drawn up for a fleet of light infantry tactical vehicles. These are in addition to regular purchases of soft-skinned trucks, night-vision and engineering equipment. Two batteries of 105mm light infantry guns have also been acquired.
A new Naval Service ship, the LE Roisin, was commissioned last year and next year a similar new ship will be commissioned. These cost more than £20 million each. An investment programme in new equipment for the Air Corps has been announced and a tender competition is currently under way to purchase new medium-range helicopters.
Defence spending this year will be over £600 million (almost 4 per cent of total Government spending) and the Minister is anxious that the right balance is achieved between pay and non-pay expenditure. The objective of the investment programme is to ensure that the Defence Forces are properly equipped to serve in any role decided on by the Government, at home or abroad. - Yours, etc.,
John Nolan, Press Officer, Department of Defence, Infirmary Road, Dublin 7.