BUDGET 2016: €66m for Defence Forces equipment

A total of €66 million will be spent on purchasing and maintaining equipment for the army, naval service and air corps next year.

It marks the start of a major re-investment which will see the upgrading and replacement of Moag heavy armoured cars/ troop transporters, the upgrading of the air corps headquarters at Baldonnell, the arrival of new planes, and the upgrading of army barracks.

Minister for Defence Simon Coveney said the €66m was solely for 2016 and, by the end of 2021, a total of €437m would be spent on upgrading buildings and equipment.