Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 January 2018
1. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to improve the physical environment and living conditions in Army barracks across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3627/18]
View answerWhat are the plans of the Minister of State and his Department in this regard to ensure that our soldiers are living in appropriate circumstances?
In order to ensure that the Defence Forces have the capability to deliver on all of the roles assigned by the Government, my Department is committed to the development and improvement of the physical environment and living conditions in military barracks. This is achieved through the Defence Forces built infrastructure programme, which is designed to modernise and enhance training, operational and accommodation facilities for Defence Forces personnel. It is based on operational requirements and is compiled on a priority needs basis by my Department in conjunction with the military authorities.
The capital element of the programme focuses mainly on infrastructure projects, including the construction of new buildings and the refurbishment of facilities. In any one year, the programme provides for new project starts and the continuation of building projects already under way. At the end of 2017, projects worth some €35 million were at various stages of implementation ranging from design to construction. Some €14.2 million has been provided for the delivery of these projects in 2018.
In addition to major capital projects, ongoing works are required under the programme to ensure the upkeep and repair of barracks and other military facilities. An amount of approximately €9 million has been provided for these works in 2018.
In recent years, the infrastructure programme included a number of projects to provide for accommodation requirements identified by the military authorities. Projects currently under way or planned in respect of military accommodation include significant upgrades and refurbishment of existing facilities at the Defence Forces training centre, Cathal Brugha Barracks and Casement Aerodrome, at a cost of €3.1 million, €1.8 million and €3 million, respectively.
The White Paper on Defence identified the need to develop a rolling five-year plan for the provision of future Defence Forces built infrastructure requirements, taking into account the capability priority needs of the Defence Forces. The plan is expected to be finalised in the coming months.
The basis for the White Paper project was the completion of a comprehensive infrastructure needs assessment. Arising from this, a number of additional projects specifically for the provision of accommodation for military personnel have been proposed. Subject to further assessment and prioritisation of military capability requirements, it is expected that a number of these will be advanced in the first iteration of the new rolling five-year plan.
I am satisfied that the best possible military facilities are available, taking into account the priorities and available resources. I am also satisfied that any improvement to military facilities that has been identified as necessary has been provided for.
On the Government's obligation to those serving in the Defence Forces, it is imperative that their physical environment and living conditions be up to standard. The Minister of State should be able to walk into any barracks or living quarters in the country and say he would be happy to sleep or work there. From personal experience of having slept and worked in many of those barracks, I can tell him that he would not be able to do that today. It is not acceptable that it is okay for members of the Defence Forces to live and work in conditions that are not acceptable to ordinary, everyday citizens.
The Minister of State mentioned that the built infrastructure programme is based on operational requirements and priority needs. A priority need is for one's workplace not to be cold, damp, falling apart or falling into dereliction. However, that is the situation in many barracks and living quarters. I suggest that the Minister of State initiate a review of the structures and living quarters in every barracks to ensure that he is satisfied, as I do not believe that he actually would be satisfied by their current condition. Will he initiate that review of the living conditions and working environment of Defence Forces personnel?
We have set out a rolling plan. I agree with the Deputy that I should be able to accept the living conditions of members of the Defence Forces for myself, but she will understand that, from 2008 until the past two or three years, there was little investment in some of those living quarters.
I wish to give the Deputy a flavour of some of the projects which are at various stages, from design to construction. A €10 million project is under way at the Defence Forces training centre in the Curragh, while €5 million will be provided for the construction of new gymnasia at Sarsfield Barracks in Limerick and Stephen's Barracks in Kilkenny. At Cathal Brugha Barracks, €3.7 million will be spent on block refurbishment. In Costume Barracks in Athlone refurbishment of the cook house and dining hall will be undertaken at a cost of €3.3 million. A sum of €3.1 million has been provided for the accommodation blocks in Pearse Barracks in the Curragh. Upgrade and refurbishment works on the apprentice hostel at Casement Aerodrome will cost an estimated €2.8 million while at the naval base in Haulbowline, €2.4 million will be spent on the upgrading of fire detection and fire fighting systems. The upgrading of two blocks of accommodation at Cathal Brugha Barracks will be undertaken at a cost of €1.8 million, while the upgrade of the accommodation facilities at the Defence Forces training centre in Connolly Barracks will cost €1.7 million. That gives the Deputy a flavour of the investment that is taking place.
The Minister of State said in his opening remarks that he was satisfied that the best facilities are available. I do not understand how he could possibly say that when he does not know the condition of the barracks across the country because his Department has not reviewed them. If the Department allocated €35 million for refurbishment and building projects in 2017, how can the Minister of State stand over a budget of less than half that amount for this year? The Department spent €35 million in 2017 but the Minister of State has just said that it will spend only €14.2 million in 2018. How will that possibly be sufficient? How can the Minister of State justify that in view of the fact that there has been more money available to spend in the last couple of years? We know that the barracks are not up to scratch so how can the Minister of State justify a budget for this year that is less than half of what it was last year? The Minister cannot possibly stand in this Chamber and say that he is satisfied that the best facilities are available. Neither can he say that the accommodation available to those serving in the Defence Forces is up to scratch because it is not and if the Minister of State asks the serving members living in the accommodation, they will tell him that. A review needs to take place in order to determine the state of the buildings. The longer a building is let fall into dereliction, the more costly it will be to repair. In that context, it is actually in the interests of the Department's budget to fix things sooner rather than later.
To be clear, I said that at the end of 2017 some €35 million worth of projects were at various stages of implementation ranging from design to construction. I did not say that €35 million was spent in 2017. I wish it was so but unfortunately, that was not the case. A number of years ago the Department sought a review of all accommodation for members of the Defence Forces. We are now in a position where we have funding available to spend on accommodation blocks in various barracks around the country. I said that some €14.2 million has been provided for the delivery of these projects in 2018 but during 2017, €35 million worth of projects were at various stages of implementation ranging from design to construction. I do not want the Deputy to be under the impression that I spent €35 million in 2017. That figure relates to the range of projects-----
Is the sum of €14.2 million in addition to the aforementioned €35 million?
A sum of €14.2 million has been provided for the delivery of these projects in 2018. I would be the first to acknowledge that a number of accommodation blocks in different barracks across the country are not up to standard but we are bringing them up to standard. It is a matter for the Defence Forces themselves and it is up to the officers commanding, OCs and the general officers commanding, GOCs, in each brigade to bring issues to the attention of the Department and to prioritise the works that are needed.
