Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 621: To ask the Minister for Defence if there are plans to develop or expand facilities at Finner and Lifford Army installations in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6843/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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There is ongoing monitoring of Defence Forces facilities to ensure they are adequate to meet military requirements. To supplement this my Department is engaged in an on-going capital building programme designed to modernise and enhance the training, operational and accommodation facilities available to the Defence Forces both Permanent and Reserve. The programme focuses mainly on infrastructural projects comprising the construction of new buildings and the refurbishment of existing buildings.

In Finner at present, there is a significant project ongoing which involves the upgrading of three Accommodation Billets. This is the second phase of an upgrade programme. The cost of this phase is approximately €1m. It is expected that this project will be completed by June 2008.

Another significant project planned for Finner as part of the Capital Programme is the Construction of a Security and Administration Complex at an estimated cost of €3.5m. The new facility will comprise a new Head Quarters for the 28th Infantry Battalion, a Guardroom and an Armory. It is expected that a competition for the engagement of a design team will be run shortly. No other significant works are planned for either Finner or Lifford, but some smaller maintenance type works may be undertaken at local level.