Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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4. To ask the Minister for Defence his plans regarding capital investment in defence facilities in the Curragh; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20330/14]

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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My question concerns the long-term proposals or vision the Minister has for the necessary continued investment in the Defence Forces training centre at the Curragh Camp, and his vision for the necessary continued investment in Army installations across the country.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy knows, my Department is engaged in an ongoing building programme designed to modernise and enhance the training, operational and accommodation facilities available to members of the Defence Forces. Under the building programme there has been considerable capital investment at the Curragh Camp in recent years. Between 2008 and 2013 my Department spent more than €11.7 million on major building projects there, with individual building projects costing in excess of €1 million as follows: new armoured vehicle garaging; refurbishment and alterations to No. 4 block at Plunkett barracks; refurbishment of the catering centre at McDonagh barracks; refurbishment of block No. 7 at Connolly barracks; refurbishment of the infantry school building; and re-roofing of the military medical facility.

Notwithstanding the constraints on the capital budget, significant projects which will provide substantial additional facilities at the camp are currently being progressed, including continuation of the process to replace ordnance storage facilities so as to bring the complex into line with modern standards for such facilities, and continuation of the conversion to natural gas consumption of the major energy-consuming facilities in the camp. The capital works programmes are based on operational requirements and are compiled on a priority basis by my Department in conjunction with the general staff.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Minister's reply. The works he identified were needed and I welcome the fact that they have been carried out. Between 2000 and 2005, the level of investment in the Curragh camp - €64 million - was quite enormous. Between 1997 and 2009, something of the order of €400 million was invested in equipment, resources and infrastructure for the Defence Forces. The Minister will be aware that the sale of barracks was, to a very large extent, a contributory factor in facilitating that level of investment. There will be a need for continuing investment in the Defence Forces into the future. I would like to see evidence to the effect that the Minister has a particular vision in this regard. The next question, in Deputy Clare Daly's name, relates to housing at the Curragh. On a recent visit to the camp - I thank the Minister for facilitating it - I was again struck by the level of dereliction which still exists there and the number of houses that are boarded up. In the context of the operational capability of the Defence Forces, there is a need for continued investment. It is the responsibility of the Minister to bring forward a plan in respect of this matter.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I agree that there is a need for continuing investment. This is a very important matter in the context of the Defence Forces. It will not have escaped the Deputy's notice that the State has been in great financial difficulties for the past three years and we have been obliged to substantially reduce our expenditure, both current and capital. There has been a decreasing envelope of capital expenditure in respect of the Defence Forces. Cuts to expenditure have, of course, been the case for every other Department. Nevertheless, some very important developments have occurred and I listed some of those in my initial reply.

As the Deputy is aware, we are currently working to produce a White Paper on defence. Obviously, the latter will address the issue of capital investment in the Defence Forces. An assessment is currently under way into the capital needs of the Defence Forces but, having said that, I do not want to pre-empt what might be contained in the White Paper. The Deputy may rest assured that while we may disagree on some issues, I am quite happy to inform him that there is no doubt in my mind regarding the need for continuing investment in the Defence Forces. My Department is, of course, committed to securing such investment. I refer here to necessary investment and, in that context, one must identify where the priorities lie. Those priorities are identified in consultation with the general staff.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for his positive response. I am conscious that in the coming years it is going to be particularly difficult for him to obtain the investment for necessary developments within the Defence Forces as he engages in combat at the Cabinet table. Even in good times, funding had to be obtained by means of the sale of barracks. As we move forward, it is going to be even more difficult to achieve the level of investment required. Mowag armoured personnel carriers, which are vital to members of the Defence Forces involved in peacekeeping operations abroad, cost €1 million per unit. I do not believe there has been any reduction in their price. We are going to face a challenge in meeting the very necessary cost of equipping the Defence Forces. Particular responsibility in that regard will rest on the Minister's shoulders in the context of fighting at the Cabinet table to obtain the level of investment that will be required. It must be remembered that there will be many competing demands on the money involved.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I dealt only with a small number of issues when replying to the Deputy's original question. The largest investment my Department is making at present is in the two new naval vessels that are to be commissioned. As the Deputy may be aware, one of those vessels, LE Samuel Beckett, was delivered to Haulbowline on Wednesday last. I visited the facility there on Friday and was shown around the vessel. A capital investment of €54 million has been made to provide what will be the best ship, with the most modern technology, that the Naval Service has ever had. The second vessel, LE James Joyce, is currently under construction and is due to be delivered next year. The cost of this vessel will also be in the region of €54 million. Despite the financial difficulties with which the State has been obliged to contend, my Cabinet colleagues and I were able to make available the funding required in respect of the construction of the vessels to which I refer. The first ship will be officially commissioned in the next ten days to two weeks and the second will be commissioned next year.

I accept that the point I am about to make will facilitate the Deputy in tabling a parliamentary question on another day but one of the issues which arises in respect of this matter is the age of the naval fleet. There is a need to ensure we will be in a position to identify the funding necessary for any further new ships that may be required in order to replace those in our aging fleet. We have already made very substantial inroads in this regard despite the financial difficulties under which the State has been obliged to labour and the constraints within which the Government has been obliged to operate.