Liam Quaide
Ceist:
348. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Defence the current operational status of Collins Barracks, Cork, including the number of personnel assigned; any vacancies; planned capital investment in infrastructure at the barracks; the timeframe for delivery of any such works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12911/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Liam Quaide
Ceist:
353. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel currently availing of military-provided accommodation in Cork; the condition of such accommodation; whether upgrades are planned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12916/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra
I propose to take Questions Nos. 348 and 353 together.
Given the amount of data requested by the Deputy, it is not possible to gather the information required in the time allowed. I have asked my officials to provide the information sought by the Deputy as soon as possible.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Orders.
I refer to the above referenced Parliamentary Questions no’s 348 and 353 from 17th February 2026 which I proposed to take together:
“To ask the Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel currently availing of military-provided accommodation in Cork; the condition of such accommodation; whether upgrades are planned; and if she will make a statement on the matter.”
and
“To ask the Minister for Defence the current operational status of Collins Barracks, Cork, including the number of personnel assigned; any vacancies; planned capital investment in infrastructure at the barracks; the timeframe for delivery of any such works; and if she will make a statement on the matter.”
While it was not possible to provide the requested information to you within the given timeframe, I am now in a position to provide same.
Figures provided by the Military Authorities at end of January 2026, shows there are currently five hundred and four (504) Defence Forces personnel availing of Defence Forces accommodation in County Cork between Collins Barracks and the Naval base in Haulbowline.
In terms of upgrades to accommodation at these locations, I can advise the Deputy that since the launch of the Infrastructure Development Plan in January 2020, the following accommodation projects at a combined cost of approximately €16.8m have been completed and 185 beds provided:
• New Accommodation Block Collins Barracks
• Haulbowline Refurbishment of Block 4
• Haulbowline Refurbishment of Block 8
The Deputy may also wish to note that the following accommodation projects are being progressed in Cork and are expected to significantly increase accommodation capacity in the coming years:
• Refurbishment of Block 1, Collins Barracks – expected completion date of mid-2026
• Refurbishment of Old Communications Building, Haulbowline
• Refurbishment of Cadet Mess Building Haulbowline
• Haulbowline – Refurbishment of Block 6
• Haulbowline – New Modular Accommodation Block
One of my priorities as Minister for Defence is to ensure that there is continued investment in infrastructure. Apart from accommodation, the following capital projects, at a combined cost of €1.75m, have been completed in Collins Barracks, Cork:
• Personnel Support Services Resources Centre
• Infrastructure & Utilities Eng Corp Offices – Building 73-1
• Upgrade of Ablutions at Blocks 15 and 16
The Deputy may also wish to note that the following projects for Collins Barracks are also in the procurement pipeline and/or design stage with varied timelines for completion:
• Refurbishment of Security Duty Centre
• New Garaging Facility
• Upgrade of Main Gate Security
Lastly, I can confirm Collins Barracks, Cork is an operational barracks. With regard to numbers of personnel and vacancies currently at this location, the Deputy will appreciate for security reasons I am not in a position to disclose that level of detail.
I trust that the information as set out above is of assistance.
