Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I recall meeting the Deputy with councillors Keena and O'Rourke at Custume Barracks. We are investing in Custume Barracks in support of the personnel and operations there. Improvement works are ongoing, including the band hall. The Defence Forces school of music is based there, and that project, which is almost complete, provided an energy retrofit and refurbishment. The emergency aeromedical service operates from Custume Barracks. The project is to replace the unsuitable hangar with a new redeployable hangar that is fully insulated, all-weather and appropriate for the AW139 helicopter used for the service. That will cost about €1.5 million - €1,445,764 to be exact, just in case anyone gets any ideas. It is proposed to provide a modern, fit-for-purpose secure engineer equipment storage facility that complies with health, safety, building and fire regulations. That will cost an estimated €600,000.

We have to organise the design of the force before getting into the specifics of locations but it is fair to say Custume Barracks is a key installation for the Army in the support of operations at home and overseas. We will keep a close eye on this but I have to await military advice. The deliberations on this issue will take some time.

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