Defence: Defence spending is to fall marginally next year and the Naval Service is the biggest loser, with spending on Naval Service equipment and expenses down by 22 per cent to €9.3 million.
A spokesman for the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, said there was "no question" of the Navy's operations being compromised next year. He said Naval Service spending fluctuated, depending on how many vessels needed to be overhauled in any year.
PDFORRA, the defence forces representative association, said it was surprised and disappointed by the naval cutbacks.
Total defence spending falls by €500,000 to €729 million. There is a drop of almost €27 million, or 53 per cent, for spending on compensation - mainly because it is now more difficult for soldiers to lodge deafness claims.
The deployment next month of 430 Irish troops and personnel to Liberia has prompted a 50 per cent increase, to €3 million, in spending on medical expenses. Around 80 per cent of the estimated €12.5 million cost of the mission will be paid by the UN.
