Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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122. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if construction works will commence in 2019 on the new gymnasia at Sarsfield Barracks, County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7942/19]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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A Design Team was appointed in 2018 to design a Sports Hall and Gymnasium for Sarsfield Barracks, assist in its procurement and oversee construction work and they commenced work in September 2018. Their first task was to conduct a feasibility study on how best to address the functional requirements for the proposed facility within the constraints of the site identified in the Barracks. Their proposals were presented to my Department in January 2019 and identified the outline of the building, how the functional requirements are addressed within it and its proposed location. The detail of those proposals are under consideration by my Department.

Before a construction contract for the project is entered into, the processes to be completed are final evaluation of the proposals by my Department, any required Planning process, detailed design of the facility, completion of the tender documentation and a tender competition for the construction work, followed by evaluation of the tender results and a decision on an award.

Funding has been earmarked to allow the construction of the project to commence in 2019 subject to conclusion of the processes preceding construction, as summarised above.