Capital Expenditure Programme

Tuesday, 1 October 2019

Questions (121)

Michael McGrath

Question:

121. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the final agreed tender price, the date of the tender for the contract and the final overall amount paid and the date of the final payment in respect of each capital expenditure project completed since 1 January 2014 by his Department or an agency under the remit of his Department and which ended up costing €10 million or more in tabular form; the reason the final amount paid exceeded the final tender price; the details available in respect of projects in which construction is not complete to date or in which the final settlement account has not been agreed to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39921/19]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Defence

The level of capital funding allocated to my Department allows the Defence Organisation to undertake a programme of sustained equipment replacement and infrastructure development across the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service. It also demonstrates the Government’s commitment to ensuring that the Defence Forces have the capabilities necessary to deliver on all their assigned roles, both at home and overseas.

Table 1 outlines capital projects in excess of €10 million that have been completed by my Department since 1 January 2014.

Table 1: Capital Projects in excess of €10 million completed since 1 January 2014

Capital Project Description

Final agreed Tender price (VAT incl.) & date of Tender

Final overall amount paid (VAT incl.) & date of final payment

Comment

Naval Service Vessel Replacement Project

€266.1m

(7 October 2010)

€270.1m

(19 December 2018)

Agreed revision to Project to include provision of spares, training, manuals, publications and additional agreed works, including works to bring all vessels in line with revised Ship Classification requirements. It also includes the cost of fuels and lubricants on board the vessels at handover

Naval Service New Vessel Armament Project

€16.5m

(30 September 2011)

€17.5m

(24 June 2019)

Agreed revision to Project to include training costs, manuals and spare parts.

Table 2 outlines capital projects in excess of €10 million currently being undertaken by my Department that have not yet completed or finalised.

Capital Project Description	Final agreed Tender price (VAT incl.)	Anticipated Completion Date
Armoured Personnel Carrier Midlife Maintenance & Upgrade Programme	€67.7m	2022
Air Corps Fixed Wing Utility Aircraft Project	€39.6m	2020
Virtual Desktop Architecture IT Project	€12.8m	2021

Under the National Development Plan and in line with the White Paper on Defence, a number of lower value capital projects are also being progressed. In addition, planning continues on further equipment renewal and replacement programmes including force protection, transport, communications and information technology, weapons and ammunition systems as well as on-going investment in modernisation and renewal of barrack infrastructure.