A report which has examined the future of the Defence Forces has been brought to Cabinet by the Minister for Defence Simon Coveney.
The findings of the Commission looking at this issue set out three options for Government.
The first looks at maintaining the Defence Forces in its current form.
This will require an increase of tens of millions of euro on the current annual budget of €1.1bn.
The second option would enable the Defence Forces to hire more people and to purchase things like radar equipment and military aircraft. This would cost around €500m extra annually.
The third option would significantly increase the Defence Forces capabilities and would involve the purchase of fighter jets. It would cost €3bn each year to fund this.
Mr Coveney is expected to make a recommendation to Government on the preferred option in five to six months' time.
The report will be published tomorrow.
