LATEST: Work to start immediately on €17m Army building in Kildare

Minister for Defence, Helen McEntee has today confirmed that the Department of Defence has signed a €17.65 million contract for the construction of a new Army Ranger Wing (ARW) Headquarters at Defence Forces Training Centre, Curragh, Co Kildare.

This contract represents phase 1 of the development of the purpose-built Special Operations Forces (Army Ranger Wing) headquarters, a three-phase project with a whole complex estimated cost of €46 million. 

The funding for the project is part of the €1.7 billion the National Development Plan (NDP) Sectoral Investment Plan for Defence, which Minister McEntee announced late last year.

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Work on the project will start immediately and it is scheduled to take twenty-one months to complete. The project will provide a modern, fit-for-purpose facility, which will support the Defence Forces’ operational capability of the Army Ranger Wing, in a space that meets the highest standards of quality and service.

Speaking after the contract signing, Minister McEntee said:

“This investment marks an important milestone in the advancement of unique Defence Forces capabilities. Both the training and the operations of the Army Ranger Wing will benefit from this investment and are of huge importance as we fulfil the Special Operations recommendations in the Commission on the Defence Forces Report."

Defence Forces Chief of Staff, Lt Gen Rossa Mulcahy added:

"This is the first step in a multi-phased project to enhance the capabilities of Ireland's Special Operation Forces (IRLSOF), the Army Ranger Wing and will ensure the Defence Forces can provide the State with a unique and specialised skillset, providing both national defence and overseas capabilities.

Together with the wide range of ongoing projects, Óglaigh na hÉireann will develop into a modern, fit-for-purpose armed force to Defend Our State."

The project is part of the Defence Forces Infrastructure Development Plan (IDP). The IDP sets out a programme of project delivery for the years 2023 to 2027.  The capital allocation for building works in military installations and barracks across the country for the last five years was some €170m. This year the capital allocation stands at €67.5m for capital investment with a further €13.5m allocation for ongoing maintenance and running costs. 

Phases 2 and 3 have a combined pre-tender estimate of over €30m, dependent on the prevailing budgetary position/existing contractual commitments, the Department will seek to group together to further expedite delivery.

The aim is now to develop the ARW’s infrastructure requirements as a total package, with a whole complex being developed rather than the HQ building alone and the subsequent requisite infrastructure being developed on an ad-hoc basis.

The contract, valued at €17.65 million (incl. VAT) was won by Bourke Builders (Ballina) Ltd. and is scheduled to take twenty-one months to complete.