Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

The Government decided on 1 July 2003 that Magee Barracks, Kildare, and lands at Gormanston Camp, County Meath, would be among the State property released to the relevant local authorities for inclusion in the Sustaining Progress affordable housing initiative. On 16 December 2003 the Government agreed to the release of approximately two acres of lands at the Camp Field, Collins Barracks, Cork, for inclusion in the initiative, as well as 2.5 acres at St. Bricin's Military Hospital, Dublin. The latter site was transferred to Dublin City Council in December 2006 as specified by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government for a nominal consideration.

How land at the remaining three locations might play a role in the delivery of the housing initiative is a matter in the first instance for the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, which is the lead Department for the development of the affordable housing initiative. The legal formalities relating to the transfer of lands at these locations are being progressed in consultation with that Department and the Chief State Solicitor's office.

As part of the Government decision to close and sell six barracks in 1998, it was decided to make provision for a contribution to local communities in the areas involved. In this context, arising from the sale of Murphy Barracks, Ballincollig, comprising approximately 150 acres, an area comprising approximately 27 acres is being transferred free of charge to Cork County Council for community use.

In addition, an area comprising approximately seven acres at Devoy Barracks, Naas, County Kildare, was ceded free of charge to Naas Urban District Council for community purposes at the time of the closure of the barracks. A further 14 acres were sold to that authority for approximately €8.9 million while the balance of the barrack lands, one acre, was sold to Kildare County Council for approximately €400,000 in 2002. Finally, an area comprising approximately 19.2 acres at the former Fitzgerald Camp, Fermoy, was sold to Cork County Council in 2001 for approximately €1 million for economic development of the site in conjunction with IDA Ireland.

As part of a separate arrangement an area comprising approximately ten acres at Ringaskiddy was transferred from my Department to the Department of Education and Science in 2002 as a site for the National Maritime College. There was no transfer of funds involved as the lands were made available as my Department's capital contribution to the development of a project which is used jointly by the Naval Service and the Cork Institute of Technology.

The Government decided in 2000 that Spike Island, County Cork, would be transferred to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The island, which had been under the administration of that Department since 1985, was formally transferred in 2002 for a nominal consideration of approximately €65,000.

A small area comprising approximately 0.25 acres at Castlebar Military Barracks, County Mayo, was dedicated to Castlebar Town Council in 2004 for use as a car park and pedestrian facilities for a nominal consideration.

From time to time land at various locations has been dedicated to local authorities to allow for projects such as road widening or realignment schemes.

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