Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)

The gross capital provision for my Department and the Defence Forces for the coming year, as set out in the recently published Estimates for Public Services 2012, is €9 million. The Estimates also provide for a carryover from 2011 of €500,000. Some €2.8 million of the capital budget has been allocated to provide for the upgrade and replacement of existing information technology hardware and associated licensing support costs. The balance of the provision, amounting to some €6.7 million, has been allocated to the building programme for the Defence Forces. One of the key objectives of the building programme is the modernisation and enhancement of the training, operational and accommodation facilities available to members of the Defence Forces.

Approximately €2.1 million of the allocation for 2012 will be expended on building projects already under way, with the balance available for new building projects in 2012, including any works that may be necessary arising from the recent decision to close a number of barracks. Projects already under way include the provision of an automated firing range at Kilworth Camp, County Cork, and of additional facilities for Defence Forces personnel at Aiken Barracks, Dundalk.

Proposed construction projects under the building programme for 2012 are currently being assessed. My Department maintains a master list of projects for development. This is reviewed periodically based on current needs and priority projects are identified. Projects to be undertaken are approved based on the outcome of a capital appraisal exercise in each case.

It is envisaged that in 2012 new-start construction projects will include a new aircraft hangar in Casement Aerodrome, phase one of the replacement of buildings at the ammunition depot in the Defence Forces training centre and the provision of a further automated firing range.

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