Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)

Given that the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces are currently co-located in Glasnevin and Infirmary Road, surely the fact that the various functions and roles of both will be split, with one being located in the Curragh and the other in Newbridge, will not lead to good administration. In terms of functionality, would it not have been preferable if a single relocation was made to Newbridge rather than splitting the two bodies? Was a cost benefit analysis carried out prior to this decision being made? The Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces will be based in Newbridge while most of his staff will be based in the Curragh. In terms of administrative purposes alone and the flow of information, and given the proximity in which the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces work, this move will create many problems down the road. It is probably too late to change the decision, but I question how well it was thought through. Surely it would have been preferable for the Government to opt for one location, and well and good if that is Newbridge given the spin-off that would result from the relocation, but dividing the two bodies in terms of location will lead to many logistical problems down the road.

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