Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

I know the people of Kildare South are decrying that they do not have a Fine Gael representative. It is good to see Deputy Carey taking an interest in the area. I know that many people from Finglas are in the barracks there. The mental telepathy on the monuments for the signatories of the 1916 Proclamation shows a Government on song and in tune with its backbenchers.

The Minister mentioned that €22 million is to be spent this year on capital projects. If the Minister cannot outline the figure now, I will accept it later. How much of that spending comes from funds obtained from the sale of Defence Forces resources? The Minister is familiar with the Curragh Camp and he will return there shortly. Would he agree there is considerable space in the area, given that the Department of Defence is seeking land to locate the Defence Forces headquarters in Newbridge, which will prove very costly, when a few miles away it could easily obtain a site with the compliments of the Minister, which would save the Exchequer several million euro, which money could be pumped into upgrading the facilities, in which Deputy Carey is very interested?

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