Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

There are currently 80 uninhabitable residential Defence Forces buildings. None of these uninhabitable properties can be brought up to a habitable standard without significant work. Many of them were built prior to the introduction of building regulations, for example. As such, considerable work will be needed to bring them up to modern standards. Consultants were commissioned to assess the condition of the Defence Forces vacant housing stock and its suitability for conversion or refurbishment to provide for additional single living-in accommodation for Defence Forces personnel. My officials are subsequently engaged with the Defence Forces to have these projects included in the existing infrastructure development plan and have discussed the prioritisation of same.

It is intended to begin the procurement phase for this project in 2026. These developments will dovetail with an extensive wider programme of Defence Forces accommodation procurement, especially investment in accommodation for serving personnel. I advise the Deputy that since the launch of the infrastructure development plan in January 2020 a lot of accommodation projects have been completed. I think it is €49.7 million worth of projects for the accommodation space providing 775 beds.

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