Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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210. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if funding is available this year to replace the air traffic control tower at Casement Aerodrome; and, if so, when this work will commence. [13869/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Defence Forces Infrastructure Development Plan (IDP) sets out a programme of project delivery for the years 2023 to 2027. The Plan is iterative in nature thus ensuring that it remains relevant and that investment is targeted where most needed. The updated Plan estimated infrastructure requirements to be in the region of some €359m for the coming years. At the end of 2024 there were over €230m worth of projects underway at different stages of development. This level of expenditure will continue to increase as the Plan is implemented. This year the capital allocation stands at €50m for capital investment with a further €12.5m allocation for ongoing maintenance and running costs.

In order to further progress development of Defence Forces infrastructure more quickly and to increase economies of scale, a series of masterplans for each installation will be developed. This approach will identify from the outset the infrastructure requirements in line with capability development for each installation with an associated prioritisation of projects and a phased timeline for delivery, as well as identifying how best to futureproof each installation. These plans will dovetail with developments identified under the current IDP, and will also layout requirements for the years from 2027 onwards.

The first masterplan for the airside in Casement Airbase, Baldonnel has recently been completed in February 2025 and is currently being reviewed by officials in my Department. It has determined how the airbase should be developed in response to the requirements of a growing Air Corps, and sets out the phased delivery of infrastructure projects while ensuring the safeguarding of any future development.

In respect of the Air Traffic Control Tower, the masterplan recognises the development of a new Control Tower as being of strategic importance to the Defence Forces and is included in the phased delivery of projects. Once the masterplan has been reviewed and published, timelines for the construction of the new Tower and its incorporation into the aforementioned IDP can be determined.