Press release
Minister Coveney publishes updated Defence Forces Infrastructure Plan and confirms historic levels of investment in the building programme
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Published on
Last updated on
Simon Coveney, Minister for Defence and Foreign Affairs, today (7 December 2022) announced details of the updated Defence Forces Built Infrastructure Plan (2022 – 2027). The Minister also confirmed a record allocation of €55 million towards investing in Defence Forces buildings for 2023.
Minister Coveney stated that:
“in the last 3 years, an unprecedented level of investment has been made in our Defence Forces infrastructure and this level of investment is growing exponentially to meet and further accelerate the roll out of the Infrastructure Plan.”
Since the Plan was launched in 2022, 16 major capital building projects have been completed, notable highlights include the:
The Minister highlighted that:
“we are now rapidly moving into a phase of the Plan where we will no longer be playing catch up on underinvestment but rather we are now providing investment at a strategic level."
He also added that:
“these strategic investments represent a series of firsts for our Defence Forces."
Highlighting the following projects in particular:
The Minister concluded referencing the current level of ambition provided for in the 2022-2027 Infrastructure Plan and stressed:
“that the level of ambition shown by my department and the Defence Forces is to be commended and shows the government’s commitment to ensuring the current and future modernisation of our Defence Forces is achieved. The current level of ambition of over €300 million in building investment over the next 5 years is without parallel in our history and shows my firm commitment to investing in the men and women of our Forces.”
The Defence Forces Infrastructure Development Plan (IDP) sets out a programme of anticipated project delivery based on the achievement of the high-level goals as set out in White Paper 2015.
A midterm review of the Plan, which was launched in 2020, has recently been completed by the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces. This updated review sets out the projects to be progressed in the coming 5 years.