The poll found that 48 per cent of individuals stated that the current level of public spending on defence and security measures in Ireland was “not enough”

People called Ireland's defence capabilities "embarrassing" in messages to Taoiseach Micheál Martin

The report cautioned that "hostile actors amy may use this as an opportunity for disruption and to cause harm".

The presence of Russian vessels off the Irish coast has been well documented in the last few years

To be set out on Tuesday, the National Development Plan will include up to €30 billion in additional capital expenditure for infrastructure.

The Defence Forces' "historically low" numbers of 7,500 are a reflection of the slow pace of implementing recommended reforms