Ireland has lowest level of spending on defence of eight comparable EU countries — report
Researchers said the Naval Service had a 'frontline role in State security', from defending territorial seas, conducting maritime surveillance, protecting maritime assets, combating drug trafficking and organised crime, keeping sea lanes clear and combating illegal fishing. Picture: David Creedon
Ireland has the “lowest level” of spending on defence when contrasted with eight other comparable EU countries — and we will still be spending less than half they do despite Government plans to increase expenditure by 2028.
In a detailed analysis, the Oireachtas Parliamentary Budgetary Office said despite increases in the defence budget between 2012 and 2024, its priority, compared to other departments, had “generally fallen”.
The report pinpointed the Naval Service as being the worst affected in terms of staffing shortages — falling at twice the rate of the army — and was currently running at two-thirds of its supposed strength (722), its lowest ever.
It said this had dramatically cut the number of its eight ships which are operational, resulting in a 63% collapse in patrol days over the last six years.
The report concluded given “increased geopolitical uncertainty and increased military conflicts” across the world, a proper assessment of the financial requirements of the Naval Service was “essential”.
The parliamentary researchers said the Naval Service had a “frontline role in State security”, from defending territorial seas, conducting maritime surveillance, protecting maritime assets, combating drug trafficking and organised crime, keeping sea lanes clear and combating illegal fishing.
In addition to the 12 nautical miles of territorial waters around the coast, the Naval Service has responsibility for the Exclusive Economic Zone. This expands out to 200 nautical miles and takes in an area of 142,000 nautical square miles.
The report said the Naval Service had suffered a net loss of 243 personnel between 2012 and 2023, with the rate increasing significantly in the last six years.
The report cited media reports alleging Russian warships and submarines off the coast of Ireland in January and August 2022 and in April and December 2023, with further reports last June.
It said this activity had put the Naval Service’s ability to act as a deterrence to vessels under “intense scrutiny”.
The report said the Commission on Defence Forces, published in February 2022, made three recommendations for investment.
The Government promised a defence budget of €1.5bn by 2028 (in 2022 prices).
This will represent about 1.5% of overall Government spending, compared to a relatively consistent 1% for many years.
Back in 2000, the Ireland's defence budget stood at 2.27%, compared to 3.05% across eight comparable EU states.
The eight states include five states that, at the time, were members of Nato (Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Denmark, Portugal], two states that joined Nato in 2023 (Finland and Sweden), and non-Nato member Austria.
By 2023, Ireland’s defence spend increased to €1.2bn, but as a percentage of the overall exchequer spend it was just 1%, compared to 3.29% across the comparator states.
The report said many of the countries significantly increased expenditure after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Ireland’s defence spend is €1.25bn in 2024 with the target of €1.5bn by 2028. This will still be far less than half of the eight states at their 2023 levels.
The report goes on to say if Ireland’s defence spend kept at the same rate as a percentage of overall Government expenditure as in 2012, the 2024 budget should be €1.55bn — higher than the 2028 target.
