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ARMY CORPS OF
ENGINEERS
The Irish Army Corps of
Engineers, in addition to providing military engineering support to
Defence Force units, has responsibility for the maintenance and
upgrading of all military posts, including Air Corps and Naval
facilities. To facilitate this role the Corps establishment
includes for architects, engineers of various disciplines, a
quantity surveying section, technicians and drawing office staff. A
major programme to upgrade Defence Forces building infrastructure
and services has been underway for a number of years. Projects are
either designed in-house or using outside consultants, depending on
the resources available at any given time.
Recent projects undertaken, with interesting structural aspects,
include the construction of an aircraft hangar (in excess of 60
metre clear spans) in Casement Aerodrome to house the government jet
and fishery protection aircraft, major upgrading of the runways in
Casement Aerodrome, the refurbishment of the main wharf and the
provision of fuel storage facilities in the Naval Base in
Haulbowline.
Also the construction of a number of specialised ammunition and
explosive storage buildings has been recently completed. These are
very heavily reinforced concrete bunkers, semi buried, designed to
eliminate the danger of sympathetic detonation between bunkers.
The Corps of Engineers is also responsible for engineering works
associated with Defence Forces operations overseas, i.e. provision
of accommodation, shelters, services, road upgrades if required etc.
Works undertaken in the last year include the construction of RC
foundations and floors for workshops and accommodation facilities in
very poor ground conditions in Liberia, and the upgrading of living
accommodation and office facilities for Irish troops in Kosovo.
Jim Foley, Lieutenant Colonel, Contracts
Officer, Corps of Engineers
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