Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is a very interesting question. The answer is basically "Yes". I have already had a conversation on this with the Minister, Deputy Harris, in the context of the plans that we have around the concept of an international peace and leadership institute as part of the broader Curragh campus, which would be an investment and an expansion in many ways of the Military College and the education and work that goes on there.

First, we have an increasing capital investment programme. The capital investment for this year in the budget is €130 million but this capital investment should be well beyond that and we will be able to supplement some of the existing expenditure from current expenditure surpluses that we will have. There is a broader question here, however, as the Deputy has asked whether we can look at the Curragh in a more holistic way to try to build a community there and deal with some of the dereliction on site.

I have walked through the Curragh Camp. There is too much dereliction even though there is investment going on. I hope to be able to put a more ambitious and broader thinking plan in place with other Ministers.

See this speech in context