Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 172: To ask the Minister for Defence the full extent of moneys realised from rent or disposal of military installation since 1998; the amount of such or extra funds spent on upgrading the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7589/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Government, on 15 July 1998, approved a programme of evacuation and sale of six barracks considered surplus to military requirements. The barracks in question were located at Ballincollig, Fermoy, Castleblayney, Naas, Kildare and Islandbridge, Dublin. The value of sales and disposals completed to date in respect of the six barracks the subject of the July 1998 Government decision, together with additional military property which was surplus to military requirements, is in the region of €90 million.

The increased level of expenditure on equipment for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service was made possible by the Government's decision that pay savings arising from the reorganisation of the Defence Forces set out in the White Paper of 2000, along with proceeds from the sale of surplus properties, would be reallocated for investment in modern facilities and equipment.

Investment in new equipment for the Defence Forces is provided for under various subheads of the Defence Vote relating to defensive equipment, mechanical transport, aircraft, ships and naval stores, engineering, communications and information technology equipment, etc. All elements of the Defence Forces, the Army, Air Corps, Naval Service and the Reserve have benefited from the investment in new equipment.

Over the past six years, in excess of €200 million has been expended on the purchase of 65 armoured personnel carriers and the Javelin missile system for the Army, new patrol vessels for the Naval Service and new trainer aircraft for the Air Corps.

The programme of investment is continuing. Early last year, I signed contracts for six new helicopters for the Air Corps costing over €60 million, two of which have already been delivered and are in operational service. Planning is well under way on the replacement programme for the next Naval Service ships to reach the end of their economic life. A contract was signed in December 2005 for an additional 15 armoured vehicles from Mowag in Switzerland at a cost of €36.5 million. The 15 APCs will be delivered in 2007.

A tender competition for the replacement of the existing FN 9mm Browning automatic pistol is now in train. It is expected that an order will be placed in the first quarter of 2006. In addition an order has been placed for the provision of 400 general purpose machine guns for delivery this year.

There are also ongoing acquisitions of modern equipment for use by soldiers on operational duties. A tender competition was held in 2005 for the provision of body armour for the individual soldier. An order has now been placed for 6,000 units for delivery this year. In addition, a separate tender competition for helmets was also held in 2005 for the acquisition of 12,000 helmets. An order has now been placed for the helmets, which will also be delivered this year. A tender competition will also be held shortly for an individual load carrying system for soldiers and it is expected that this system will also be available by the end of this year.

Side by side with the investment in equipment there has been an unprecedented level of expenditure on infrastructure in the Defence Forces in recent years, also made possible by the Government's decision. Almost €200 million has been spent between 1999 and 2005 on the capital investment programme for the upgrade of barracks to provide the Defence Forces with modern accommodation, operational, training and recreational facilities. This year's Estimate for my Department includes €21.8 million for such capital works.

It is evident that massive steps have been taken in recent years to modernise Defence Forces equipment and infrastructure and that substantial efforts are continuing on both fronts. The continuation of investment in infrastructure and equipment for the Defence Forces remains a top priority for me.