Major capital construction projects worth €21 million for the Defence Forces will begin this year, the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, has announced.
Among the 21 projects approved are the refurbishment of the brigade block, Custume Barracks, Athlone; the Armoury, Dún Uí Mhaolíosa, Galway; battalion headquarters, Dundalk Barracks; and accommodation at Cathal Brugha Barracks.
Others include the upgrade of the accommodation at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, and at Dún Uí Mhaolíosa, Galway, and of the accommodation and cookhouse at Sarsfield Barracks, Limerick.
There will also be new offices and stores for the Army Rangers at the Curragh.
The Minister said: "I am delighted to approve these capital projects which will further improve facilities for the Defence Forces.
"These contracts are further evidence of my commitment to implement the modernisation programme as set out in the White Paper on Defence."
He said that since 1997, over €175 million has been spent on modernising Defence Forces infrastructure and facilities throughout the country.