Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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227. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will publish the complete list of capital works planned following the announcement of an additional €35 million in capital funding in Budget 2023. [49052/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I would like to thank the Deputy for affording me the opportunity to highlight the significant investments we have made in Defence Forces built infrastructure. In 2022, we provided a record level of money to support and improve the building stock. We are going even further in 2023, with an allocation for next year of €55m, the biggest yearly allocation towards the building programme since the 2008 economic crash.  

The Defence Forces Infrastructure Development Plan (IDP) sets out a programme of anticipated project delivery based on the achievement of the high-level goals as set out in White Paper 2015.The Plan is iterative in nature thus ensuring that it remains relevant and that investment is targeted where most needed. In that regard, a midterm review of the Plan has commenced. When this review is completed, the projects to be progressed in the coming 5 years will be made available . 

Despite ongoing pressures facing the construction sector from the war in Ukraine and the lingering effects of the global pandemic, 2022 was a largely positive year with a number of significant capital projects under construction at a combined value of some €23m.

- Refurbishment of Block 8, Haulbowline

- Upgrade of the Former USAC Building, Renmore

- Cadet School HQ, Defence Forces Training Centre

- Upgrade to Barracks HQ, McKee Barracks

- Provision of an Equipment Storage Facility

- Remediation of Spencer Jetty, Haulbowline 

In addition to the above, the completion of the upgrade and refurbishment works to Block H in McKee Barracks is expected in the coming weeks. This project, which involves significant refurbishment of a protected building, will on completion provide single living in accommodation for Defence Forces personnel.

The Deputy may wish to note that there are currently over €100m worth of projects underway at different stages of development. I can assure the Deputy that the programme will receive the required capital funding as the building activities increase over the lifetime of the Programme.