SPEECH BY MICHAEL SMITH, T.D., MINISTER FOR DEFENCE,
AT OFFICIAL OPENING OF NEW BUILDINGS
AT THE DEFENCE FORCES TRAINING CENTRE,
CURRAGH CAMP, CO KILDARE.
21st JANUARY 2003

Chief of Staff, Secretary General at the Department of Defence, Assistant Chief of Staff (Support), General Officer Commanding Defence Forces Training Centre, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, I am delighted to be here in the Curragh Camp for the official opening of new buildings, including this fine dining complex.

On taking up office as Minister for Defence in 1997, I was determined that a modernisation process for the Defence Forces would involve not only the acquisition of new equipment, but also the upgrading and development of facilities at barracks and military installations. For too long, Defence Forces personnel have had to endure unsatisfactory physical conditions at their places of work. I have worked hard to reverse this and I am delighted to be here in the Curragh today to view for myself the latest fruits of these endeavours.

Since 1997, some €150 million has been allocated to the capital investment programmes for the upgrade of barracks. The results are apparent throughout the country. However, it is here in the Curragh that it is most obvious. It is only right and proper that such a place of significance for the Defence Forces has received the necessary funding to meet the needs of the modern era. Over €60 million has now been spent on upgrading facilities and new buildings at the Curragh since I became Minister for Defence.

All the new facilities I have viewed here today have impressed me – the APC Compound, Combat Support College and this Dining Complex, and credit must go to the Corps of Engineering, the design teams and the contractors. Having just last month signed the contract for an additional 25 of the Mowag APCs at a cost of €33.2 million, I was particularly interested to see the magnificent compound in which all 65 APCs will be housed. It is a matter of immense pride for me as Minister for Defence to see such state of the art equipment housed in such an impressive facility. I have no doubt that this facility is as modern as would be found anywhere in the world. Along with the other developments here at the Curragh, they reflect a forward-looking organisation clearly equipped for the challenges of the future.

Today I viewed three projects at a total cost of over €15 million. I am aware that they represent only a fraction of the work that has been undertaken over the last few years and which is still underway. There is, I believe, no finer illustration of the Government's commitment to the future of the Defence Forces than the Curragh Camp. What was a somewhat dishevelled collection of military buildings, is being transformed into a modern complex fit to meet the needs and expectations of the Defence Forces in the 21st Century.

I would like to congratulate all those associated with the design and construction of the buildings I have viewed, many of whom I know are here today. As well as the Corps of Engineering, I would like to mention the following:

· Main Contractor: Duggan Lynch Ltd and Architects/Structural Engineers: Building Consultancy Group, for the APC Compound;
· Main Contractor: Collen Construction Ltd and Architects: Project Architects, for the Combat Support College;
· Main Contractor: Collen Construction Ltd, and Architect: Keane, Murphy, Duff, for the Dining Complex.

The quality of the design, workmanship and execution is a tribute to the highly professional manner in which these projects were undertaken.

To those who would doubt that investment in the Defence Forces has made a real impact I would point them to what has been achieved here. Despite the more challenging economic environment, I am committed to the ongoing investment programme in the Defence Forces. Through the sale of properties surplus to military requirements and savings made from reductions in the payroll, we have been able to move the investment programme significantly forward. The White Paper on Defence which charts a course of development over the next seven years, clearly lays out an investment programme and a military organisation which is second to none.

My absolute priority as Minister for Defence remains its full implementation.

My renewed thanks to all involved in today's event.

Go raith maith agat.