Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy knows, my Department is engaged in an ongoing building programme designed to modernise and enhance the training, operational and accommodation facilities available to members of the Defence Forces. Under the building programme there has been considerable capital investment at the Curragh Camp in recent years. Between 2008 and 2013 my Department spent more than €11.7 million on major building projects there, with individual building projects costing in excess of €1 million as follows: new armoured vehicle garaging; refurbishment and alterations to No. 4 block at Plunkett barracks; refurbishment of the catering centre at McDonagh barracks; refurbishment of block No. 7 at Connolly barracks; refurbishment of the infantry school building; and re-roofing of the military medical facility.

Notwithstanding the constraints on the capital budget, significant projects which will provide substantial additional facilities at the camp are currently being progressed, including continuation of the process to replace ordnance storage facilities so as to bring the complex into line with modern standards for such facilities, and continuation of the conversion to natural gas consumption of the major energy-consuming facilities in the camp. The capital works programmes are based on operational requirements and are compiled on a priority basis by my Department in conjunction with the general staff.

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