John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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27. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the capital projects his Department is proposing for inclusion in the review of the national development plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31157/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The IDP sets out a programme of project delivery for the years 2023 to 2027. The Programme provides a blueprint for investment in the Defence Forces infrastructure over a multi-annual timeframe and ensures that the required capital funding is prioritised as building activities increase over the lifetime of the Programme.

The capital allocation for building works in military installations and barracks across the country for the last five years was some €170m. This year the capital allocation stands at €50m for capital investment. My Department also allocates funding each year to the Defence Forces for the maintenance, repair and upkeep of its building stock. This year the devolved budget of €12.5 million was assigned to the Defence Forces by my Department. The individual prioritisation of specific projects to be carried out is solely a matter for the Defence Forces in keeping with the delegated nature of this budget.

The original IDP was published in January 2020, on approval by the Minister, with an updated plan published in 2022.

The following significant capital projects are at various stages of the procurement pipeline, from design planning and construction to substantial completion:

• Casement Military Medical Facility (Relocation of Bricins)
• Upgrade of two buildings (Block 4 Accommodation and Block 9 Office Accommodation) at the Naval Base, Haulbowline
• New CIS Workshop Facility, Defence Forces Training Centre
• Collins Barracks - Refurbishment of Block 1
• Aikens Dining Hall
• ARW New HQ Building
• Various projects to develop the Joint Induction Training Centre in Gormanston Camp
• Gymnasium works at Finner Camp, Casement Aerodrome, Haulbowline and Renmore Barracks
• NS Dredging