Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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235. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence given the approval of the master plan for the infrastructural development of Casement Aerodrome, when these plans will be published; if they will be resourced as part of voted budget or funds set aside under the NDP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57168/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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My Department, with the Defence Forces, is developing  a series of masterplans for each Defence Forces installation, which will be developed to future-proof these locations for the next 20-30 years. The first such masterplan for the Airside in Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, was completed earlier this year and sets out a number of recommendations in relation to the development of the aerodrome in response to the level of ambition this Government has set for the Air Corps. The masterplan sets out the layout and operational functionality of the current and future airbase. As such, I do not intend to publish the report at this time when it could adversely affect the security and defence of the State if detailed information about the current and future structure and operations of a military installation were publicly available.

In total, the masterplan for Casement Airside provides development options equivalent to over €200 million in investment. These plans will dovetail with developments already identified under the current IDP, and will also lay out requirements for the years from 2027 onwards.   Arising from this masterplan, my Department is currently in the process of tendering for an Integrated Design Team to undertake the design and construction oversight for the construction works on three (3) Aircraft Hangars, one of which will be a new, dedicated maintenance hangar.