This new investment will enable a main contractor to be appointed in the coming weeks with works to commence on site shortly after.
Announcing the funding, Minister for Defence Simon Coveney said: "The construction of this facility is being undertaken as part of the five year Defence Forces Infrastructure Development Plan. The investment is part of a suite of investments we are making in our Defence Forces over the next five years, to ensure that our Defence Forces are enabled to contribute fully to their assigned roles.
"These works involve the construction of a new detached accommodation block split into two wings, with accommodation over three floors to accommodate some 40 living-in personnel."
-- Advertisement --
This comes little over a month since Minister Coveney opened a refurbished Accommodation Block at Haulbowline Naval Base, at a cost of €4.2 million, with seven further Haulbowline projects to be progressed at an estimated cost of €76 million.
Construction at Collins Barracks will begin in the coming weeks and is expected to take 12 months to complete.
This project together with forthcoming refurbishment of Block 1, which is to start next year, provides for an investment of over €9m in capital works alone in the coming months for Collins Barracks.
In addition to improvements in infrastructure, there have been a range of improvements made with regard to pay and conditions. Last Wednesday, Minister Coveney announced significant improvements in pay and allowances for new recruits. It followed on from the Budget Day announcement of an almost 25% increase and the highest ever capital allocation provided to Defence.
The Minister concluded: "In 2022, I had provided a record level of money to support and improve the Defence Forces building stock and that for 2023 I have gone even further by providing an allocation of €55m, which will ensure that the ongoing delivery of over €100m worth of building projects will continue apace."
