Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 October 2025
237. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence given the recent investment of over €350 million in aircraft for the Air Corps (details supplied), if he is satisfied that sufficient hangar space exists in Casement Aerodrome to protect these aircrafts from the corrosive moist Irish climate; if not, when additional hangar space will come online; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57170/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraBuilding on the success of the Infrastructure Development Programme, approval was given to develop a series of masterplans for each Defence Forces installation, which will be developed to future-proof these locations for the next 20-30 years. The first such masterplan for the Airside in Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, was completed earlier this year and sets out a number of recommendations in relation to the development of the aerodrome in response to the level of ambition this Government has set for the Air Corps.
In total, the masterplan for Casement Airside provides development options equivalent to over €200 million in investment. These plans will dovetail with developments already identified under the current IDP, and will also lay out requirements for the years from 2027 onwards.
Arising from this masterplan, my Department is currently in the process of tendering for an Integrated Design Team to undertake the design and construction oversight for the construction works on three (3) Aircraft Hangars, one of which will be a new, dedicated maintenance hangar. The proposed new hangar infrastructure will accommodate the dorming and maintenance requirements of current and future aircraft types, including the recently acquired C295 type and the soon to arrive Falcon 6X. The new hangars will ensure that staff are also working in an environment that is safe and designed to meet the modern requirements of a workspace specifically aimed at aviation maintenance. In parallel, the Air Corps will utilise existing hangar space to maximise the protection of new assets and the operational availability of all aircraft.
