Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

Traditionally, it has been difficult for the Department of Defence to get money at the Cabinet table, but we have moved on from that situation. Last year, more than €1 billion was spent in the defence Estimate for the first time. Since 1997, sales of land re-invested in equipment and buildings have amounted to more than €90 million. We continue to keep the situation under review.

The matter of land transferred at nominal or below value or for free falls into two categories, both of which result from Government decisions. In 1998, when the Government decided to sell six barracks, it also decided to make some of that valuable land available for public use, such as amenity areas, etc. The decision was welcomed widely on all sides of the House and it has been followed through. In 2003, the Department of Defence, one of the land-owning Departments, was instructed to provide some lands to assist the social and affordable housing initiative. This was laudable and everyone considered it a good idea. Anyone who attended last year's military parade saw how much state-of-the-art equipment the Army has. The investment in equipment and improving barracks throughout the country, which has run into tens of millions of euro in recent years, will continue.

Regarding Kilworth, the amount of land in question is approximately 50 acres to 100 acres. It is a loose figure. As Deputy Timmins knows, we own several thousand acres at Kilworth. A joint working group has been established between the Departments of Defence and Justice, Equality and Law Reform to draft proposals. I am advised that, as we speak, the group is examining the site in Kilworth.

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