2026-05-07

71. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Defence if her Department or the Defence Forces have plans to renovate and bring back into use more than 80 vacant homes at the Curragh Camp; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33195/26]

My question relates to the future use of the accommodation at the Curragh Camp. There are many vacant homes there at the moment.

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. There has been significant investment in the Defence Forces built infrastructure in recent years. The capital expenditure for building works in military installations and barracks across the country for the past five years was approximately €170 million, and for this year alone is close to €70 million. In particular, the development of accommodation for new recruits has been a priority for the Department. In terms of the existing Defence Forces residential housing stock in the Curragh Camp, of 104 residential units, 63 residential properties are uninhabitable. None of these properties can be brought up to a habitable standard without significant work, and many were built prior to the introduction of building regulations. Consultants were commissioned to assess the condition of the Defence Forces vacant housing stock and its suitability for conversion or refurbishment to provide for additional single living-in accommodation for Defence Forces personnel. That consultancy reported its recommendations on refurbishment projects last year. My officials have since engaged with the Defence Forces to have those projects included in the existing infrastructure development programme. I am advised that work is actively under way to prepare the necessary tender documentation, with a view to commencing a procurement process this year. There is currently an extensive programme of investment in accommodation for serving Defence Forces personnel across all military installations. Since the launch of the infrastructure development plan in January 2020, numerous accommodation projects, at a combined cost of approximately €49 million, have been completed and have provided 775 beds. The Deputy may also wish to know that a steady pipeline of accommodation projects is being progressed. These are expected to significantly increase accommodation capacity in the coming years. As I said in an earlier reply, only last week, I was at Haulbowline, the naval base in Cork, where we opened state-of-the-art accommodation with over 70 beds. That was in some of the older infrastructure, thereby making sure we protect our heritage and protect our older buildings, where possible, but also making sure that our new recruits are living and operating in new, modern facilities.

I take it from the response that there has been some progress. The Minister referred to 63 but my information is that up to 80 properties are in a derelict state. Soldiers are travelling distances to work, and many travel from County Laois. There are also retired soldiers, some of whom, unfortunately, end up in difficult housing situations. It is important these properties are put back into use. We cannot have vacant homes of any kind lying empty, given the housing crisis. Has there been liaison with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on the issue? I would make one point about the consultants and the report. The Minister and I know that things can go around the houses over a long period of time. It is important that there is action. They are empty and derelict houses. It is important that we move on and try to get them back into use.

I agree that we need action. We need to make sure that the money we have allocated, all €1.7 billion of it, in particular the money that is specific to accommodation, is spent and that projects are ready to go.

How much will be spent on accommodation?

In this year alone, we are up to €70 million, and that includes accommodation, but also dining facilities, a new gym and overall critical infrastructure. It will be over €400 million in the coming years. We need to make sure that we have projects ready to go and lined up. As I said, 63 residential properties have been identified as uninhabitable. The projects that are being progressed include refurbishment of block one in Collins Barracks, modular accommodation in Haulbowline, the conversion of houses Nos. 2 and 5 in Casement Aerodrome, the refurbishment of cadet accommodation in Haulbowline, the refurbishment of the cadets’ mess accommodation in Haulbowline, the refurbishment of blocks A, B, C, D, E and F in Stephens Barracks, and there is also Cathal Brugha Barracks, the Curragh, Gormanston and Casement Aerodrome. These are all projects that are under way. On top of that, the projects that have been completed to date include Pearse Barracks, the Defence Forces Training Centre in the Curragh, Cathal Brugha Barracks, Casement Aerodrome, McKee Barracks and Haulbowline. A huge amount of work has been done in recent years. As I said, a huge number of projects are currently under way.

The Minister outlined the many different locations, barracks and naval bases. I welcome that. However, the issue at the Curragh is of particular concern. This has gone on for a long time and in the past three or four decades, these houses have gradually fallen into disuse. I know some of them might be a challenge as they were built at a different time, some during the period of British rule. Whether it was 100, 120 or 130 years ago, housing standards were not what they are now. There has been a lot of talk in this House about upgrading houses and bringing old houses back into use. There is a lot more technology now. The Minister outlined a wide range of works across the State but I would like to see a particular focus on the Curragh. The Curragh was the main Army camp over the years. There was a big concentration in Kildare, and many people from County Laois served there. I would like to see that as a particular target.

I have been in the Curragh a number of times. It is synonymous with the Defence Forces and is long-standing in terms of what it has provided and supported for Defence Forces members for many years, including accommodation and training on the grounds. I want to do everything possible to invest in new infrastructure but also to bring what is derelict back into use and ensure we are making the best use of the infrastructure that we have there. That is why we are seeing a significant amount of investment, not just in accommodation, but more broadly in infrastructure across the Curragh and all of the various different barracks and areas that I have mentioned. It is important to stress that we have a Defence Forces infrastructure development plan. It has set out the delivery of these projects from 2023 to 2027, many of which have already been delivered. With the new capital plan, the intention is to make sure that we have a new stream of works and more projects that are ready to go, including projects like the one at the Curragh. As more funding comes on stream, or as additional funding is added to our capital plan mid-term, I hope that we will have more projects ready to go and that we will be able to continue that steady stream of investment.

Deputy Ó Fearghaíl indicated that he wished to ask a supplementary question.

I commend Deputy Stanley on putting down a question on this important matter. I welcome the response from the Minister. I grew up in Kildare at a time when, like many generations before me, the Curragh was a vibrant, living community. Unfortunately, in recent decades, the Department of Defence took as its policy the depopulation of the Curragh camp. Worse still, in recent years, we have seen the demolition of many houses in the area, which is completely wrong. I thank the current Taoiseach and former Minister for putting a stop to the demolition of houses. I welcome the Minister, Deputy McEntee's reply today. The commitment to refurbish those houses is very positive. I ask her to also look at the Orchard Park 100-house development, where a few houses remain in Army ownership. The intention is to transfer them to the local authority, which is in agreement, but there are still some tenants in those houses who would want to avail of an option to purchase. I ask the Minister to look at that.

We need to look at all of the stock in the Defence Forces. We need to make sure that where we can refurbish, we are doing that, and where we need to build new, we are doing that, but also that we are looking at other options, whether with the local authorities or other associations. I am happy to look at any proposals or suggestions that the Deputy has raised. More broadly, the Deputy spoke about it as a community. I work very closely with somebody who went to school in the Curragh, so I understand that we are not just talking about people who are training but their families living onsite and going to school there. It is a community. We want to make sure that it maintains that sense of community, given its importance for the Defence Forces overall. My priority is to make sure we continue to invest in it, and that where there is dereliction, we address that, but also that we highlight it and support the community that is thriving there. That is an integral part of our Defence Forces because the support the families provide to our Defence Forces is essential. Again, this comes back to the fact that if we want to grow and expand our Defence Forces, have greater capabilities and encourage more people to come into the Defence Forces, we need to make sure there is appropriate accommodation and services for them. That is a key part of our overall plan and objectives in the years ahead.