Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I might come back quickly on the RDF and the implication of barracks closures throughout the country. For example, if I live in Sligo and want to become a member of the RDF, where do I go? Do I go to Athlone, Finner Camp or Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa in Galway? We have broken the RDF by not having units locally. When I was in the RDF as a very young man, every Tuesday night every street corner in Galway had fellows standing in uniform waiting to go to whichever unit they were in. Every Sunday morning saw the same thing. I cannot see any incentive for anybody living 30 or 40 miles away from barracks to be any part of the RDF. We need to go back to having people located on the ground within the villages. I offer that as advice more than anything else. If I live in Kilkee, there should be soldiers in Kilkee who would who run a military base in Kilkee.