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Capital Expenditure Programme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 July 2019

Thursday, 11 July 2019

Ceisteanna (136, 137, 140, 141, 142)

Jack Chambers

Ceist:

136. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the capital projects which have been delayed under Project Ireland 2040 under the remit of his Department and agencies in tabular form; when these projects will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30884/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Jack Chambers

Ceist:

137. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the capital projects which have commenced under Project Ireland 2040 under the remit of his Department and agencies in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30920/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Jack Chambers

Ceist:

140. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if expenditure estimates for capital projects under Project Ireland 2040 under the remit of his Department and agencies match projected cost requirements in tabular from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30966/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Barry Cowen

Ceist:

141. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of capital projects being undertaken by his Department; the final agreed tender price; the estimated cost of each capital project in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31076/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Barry Cowen

Ceist:

142. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the capital projects completed since 2010; the final agreed tender price for each project; the actual cost of each project; if the actual cost exceeded the tender price; the reason therefor in each case in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31092/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 136, 137 and 140 to 142, inclusive, together.

The total capital allocation for my Department in 2019 across its two Votes – Vote 27: International Co-operation and Vote 28: Foreign Affairs and Trade - is €21 million. The corresponding 2018 capital allocation, in the first year of Project Ireland 2040/National Development Plan 2018-2027 was €13 million. 

The main focus of capital investment in 2019, as was also the case in 2018, is on the cost of constructing and maintaining State properties overseas under Global Ireland 2025, the on-going Passport Reform Programme, Ireland’s participation at EXPO 2020 and the continuing investment in ICT to support the Department’s global ICT network.

The projected breakdown of the 2019 capital allocation of €21 million, across the various areas referred to above, is as follows:

 

2019

State properties overseas  

€8.5 million  

Passport Reform Programme  

€5.5 million  

EXPO 2020  

€4.0 million  

ICT

€3.0 million  

Total

€21 million

Insofar as the current and future budgets for State properties overseas is concerned, details of the major current projects follow. It is planned to complete building works in 2019 at the Permanent Mission to the UN in New York at a total cost of €5.6 million. This project will be completed on budget. Preliminary works continue to facilitate the construction of a new Embassy/Ireland House in Tokyo for which a site was purchased in 2017 for €7.7 million. This project is currently under tender for design and management with construction tendering expected to be completed in 2020. The estimated construction cost for this project is €16 million.  Tendering for the construction of new Chancery and Official Accommodation buildings in Abuja, Nigeria, is expected to take place in 2020. In 2018, the Department purchased a building for €3.7 million for an expansion of the Washington D.C. Chancery. This project is still under development.

Under the on-going Passport Reform Programme, the main projects due for completion in 2019 will be the automated mailing project, the business process automation project, the bedding-in of the improvements to the on-line renewals service, on-going improvement to customer systems, and the commencement of the Passport Integrated Processing System. The overall budget for the Passport Reform Programme of €21.4 million, for the period 2015-2021, is on target, in line with the business case.

An allocation of €4 million in 2019 is provided for building costs associated with Ireland’s participation in EXPO 2020 in Dubai.  Ireland’s national Pavilion is being designed by the Office of Public Works.  The total capital cost of the pavilion will be €5 million and is expected to come in on budget. EXPO 2020 is expected to attract some 25 million visitors.  In a competitive global environment, participation will promote increased awareness of Ireland in the UAE and other key markets as a place to do business and as a destination for FDI post-Brexit.  Ireland’s presence will also aim to support trade and tourism opportunities for Ireland in the UAE and wider Gulf region.

For 2019 there are also smaller planned capital projects in respect of ICT Services comprising infrastructure upgrades, rollout of new business systems and improved communications technology. Provision is also being made for ICT services to new Missions under Global Ireland 2025.

Question No. 138 answered with Question No. 131.
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