Defence Estimates 2005

[Frank]

Hi Guys,

I just had a look at the Defence Estimates 2005 and the Air Corps budget is down by 11% from 2004 budget to €40,000,000.

Big drop but is this accounted for by the fact that this year's budget took care of the PC-9M's and the new helicopters?

Click on the link below to see the Estimates for yourself:

http://www.finance.gov.ie/documents/public%20expenditure/aev2005.pdf


Regards,

Frank.

[clan]

The Air Corp is down but the Defence budget is up by 6%. Military transport is up 21% to 10m. What would that buy?

[FMolloy]

Quote (clan @ 19 Nov. 2004,00:54)

Military transport is up 21% to 10m. What would that buy?

Maybe that's to cover increases in fuel costs?

[clan]

The way things are going you could be right. I hope the drivers do not get any points on there licences as that will mean the insurance will go up.

[Frank]

Department of Defence press release on the Defence Estimates 2005

http://www.defence.ie/website....ocument

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Defence Estimates 2005

The combined Defence and Army Pensions Estimates for 2005 amount to €904m net, an increase of 6% on the 2004 Estimates. The Army Pensions Estimate for 2005 is €165m and a breakdown of the Defence Estimate for 2005 is as follows:

€000
Administration: 20,709
Pay: 530,204
Non-pay: 168,419
Capital (buildings and I.T.): 25,000
Compensation#: 14,000
Gross Total: 758,332
Appropriations in Aid*: -19,400
Net Total: 738,932

# The provision for compensation is reduced from €24m in 2004 to €14m in 2005 reflecting reduced expenditure on hearing loss claims.
* Appropriations in Aid include monies from land sales, cash escorts etc. The 2004 figure included €25m from sale of Clancy Barracks. The estimated receipts for sale of property in 2005 is €5m.

Expressing his satisfaction with the provision for 2005, the Minister for Defence, Mr. Willie O’Dea, T.D., commented that “the funding provided for 2005 means that major equipment programmes, such as the acquisition of 2 light utility and 4 utility helicopters will proceed and that further progress can be made on the Defence Forces building and modernisation programmes – in 2005, over €33m will be spent on maintenance of buildings and capital works. It is also my intention to initiate a programme for the acquisition of light tactical vehicles.”

“Next year will be the fifth year of the ten year programme set out in the White Paper on Defence for the development of the Defence Forces. Great progress has already been achieved and I am determined that, as far as I can, this will continue over the coming years.”

“Major investments in the Defence Forces to date include:-

· €84 million for 65 Mowag Armoured Personnel Carriers;
· €60 million on 8 Pilatus fixed wing trainer aircraft;
· €51 million on two state-of-the art ships for the Naval Service;
· over €260 million expended on capital building and building maintenance works between 1997 and end of 2004.

A considerable amount of the funds required for these investments was raised from our own resources through savings and the sale of properties surplus to military requirements.” continued Mr. O’Dea. “Although the amounts that can be raised from the disposal of additional property will not be of the magnitude of those achieved previously, I intend to continue with the disposal of property deemed to be surplus to military requirements.

ENDS 18 Nov. 2004

Issued by Jack McConnell, Press Officer, Department of Defence


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