asked the Minister for Defence if he will make a statement on the state of development for the provision of the new military barracks in Cavan.

A site for the proposed new military post in Cavan has been acquired and a team of consultants is engaged in the design, planning and direction of the project. It is hoped that construction will commence about mid-1986.

Will the Minister indicate when tenders will be invited for the construction of the new military barracks in Cavan?

I cannot give the Deputy a date as to when tenders will be invited but I draw his attention to my reply where I stated it is hoped that construction will commence about mid-1986. Presumably tenders will be invited early in 1986 for part of, if not the whole, works.

We are led to believe the Book of Estimate is being put together. Will the Minister indicate if financial provision has been made in 1986 for the construction of the military barracks in Cavan?

I refer the Deputy to the document, Building on Reality in which he will see that the capital requirements and proposals for my Department are set out until 1987. They include capital to cover this project.

Seeing that so many other figures in Building on Reality have gone astray, the Minister will understand that I want confirmation from him that the figure relating to the military barracks at Cavan still obtains.

I can confirm that. I draw the Deputy's attention to the fact that this would not be a matter for the Book of Estimates which deals with current expenditure. This is a capital item.

It will be in the Book of Capital Estimates?

May I remind Deputies I will be leaving questions to the Minister for Defence at 3.12 p.m.?

Why?

It is in accordance with the order of the House. After that time we will move to questions to the Minister for the Public Service.

Will the Minister state when the consultants working on the Cavan barracks project were appointed?

I have not got the date. I think they have been working on it since early in the year.