Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Defence the amount of his Department’s €9 million capital spending for 2013 that will go towards construction projects; the projects are involved; the details of these projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5272/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Department is engaged in an ongoing capital building programme designed to modernise and enhance the training, operational and accommodation facilities available to members of the Defence Forces. The programme provides for new projects and the continuation of capital building work already underway. An overall capital provision of €9 million has been allocated to the Department for 2013. Of the capital funds available for 2013, €6.24 million has been allocated for capital building works at military installations. The remainder of approximately €2.76 million has been allocated to Information and Communications Technology development. A further €900,000 is also available for capital building works, as capital carryover from 2012 giving an overall allocation for capital building works of €7.14 million.

Some €2.19 million of this allocation is being expended on a range of capital building projects which were already in progress from 2012 and which are at various stages of completion across a number of military locations. These include the replacement of hangar No. 1 at Casement Aerodrome, a generator installation project at McKee Barracks and the provision of transport yard facilities at Clarke Barracks, Curragh.

The balance of the provision for capital building works will facilitate new starts in 2013. Principal new projects proposed for 2013 include the provision of an automated firing range facility at Oranmore, the upgrade of the Ammunition Depot Buildings at the Defence Forces Training Centre at the Curragh, the re-roofing of the Officer’s Mess building at McKee Barracks which is a listed building and the refurbishment of the Cookhouse/Dining Hall at Casement Aerodrome in order to ensure compliance with Health and Safety standards. It is also proposed, on a phased basis, to provide for the supply and use of Natural Gas to the Curragh Camp.