Defence Forces Property.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 June 2005

Tuesday, 28 June 2005

Questions (770)

Gerard Murphy

Question:

772 Mr. G. Murphy asked the Minister for Defence the amount of money which has been spent on the renting, leasing or purchasing of de-mountable, temporary accommodation over the past five years; if his Department arranges this through the Department of Finance; the tendering process which is in operation and the frequency in which it is reviewed; the length of time the arrangement lasts; the average period of renting or leasing; and the number of units which have been rented and leased over five, eight and ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22497/05]

Written answers

Minister for Defence (Mr. O’Dea)

The total spent on de-mountable temporary accommodation, both leased and purchased, in my Department over the last five years is €3,522,174 broken down as follows: €439,552 for units purchased for use by the military in Ireland; €386,354 for units leased for use by the military in Ireland; and €2,696,268 for units purchased for use by the military in Lebanon, Liberia, and Kosovo.

My Department conducts all of these leases and purchases without any direct input from the Department of Finance. Tendering is carried out in accordance with Government procurement procedures on a case-by-case basis as the need arises. Procedures are reviewed regularly in line with current best practice. The average period of leasing is approximately four months and in no case has a leasing period exceeded three years.