Brendan Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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182. To ask the Minister for Defence in relation to the recently closed army barracks at Slaugh Hall, Swords, County Dublin, the plans in place for the future use or sale of the barracks; if there will be an opportunity for the premises to be made available for community use; if it will be leased to a new tenant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24966/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Under the re-organisation programme for the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) this property closed on 5th March 2013. My Department has written to each Government Department, various agencies and local authorities seeking expressions of interest in acquiring any of the former RDF properties including the Sluagh Hall in Swords to benefit the local community as a whole but with particular emphasis on job creation measures. Whilst some discussion has taken place in relation to this property no substantial progress has been made towards achieving a sale to date. Whilst I would of course be happy to discuss with any interested group proposals they may have for the Sluagh Hall in Swords, my Department is obliged to dispose of surplus property by sale to another state agency or through a public tendering/auction process. Any proposal involving the long term administering of multiple leases and fulfilling the many responsibilities of a landlord cannot be accepted given the current resources available in my Department.