Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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2114. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the level of construction inflation that has been experienced by his Department in the 18 months to September 2017 in respect of construction projects; the way in which he monitors construction inflation and the mechanisms his Department employs to establish this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38021/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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For Department of Defence capital projects, construction inflation, including projections of future inflation levels, is monitored taking account of both the Tender Price Index published twice yearly by the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) and the reports published annually by some of the larger Quantity Surveying and Cost Management firms.

The published documentation provides a picture of typical construction inflation levels.

The nature of the Defence property portfolio predisposes towards a high proportion of refurbishment work and work on heritage type buildings as well as projects in relation to specialist military structures that are not typical construction projects, such as military firing ranges, ordnance storage facilities etc. The portfolio of projects is also quite dispersed by location.

Experience of average construction inflation for Department of Defence construction projects over the 18 months to September 2017 is generally in line with the SCSI Tender Price Index, albeit that there can be variation in respect of individual projects for the reasons outlined above.