Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

——provided some of the resources required for infrastructure, training area development and equipment procurement. In this regard, the White Paper stated "the thrust of the Government decisions in the White Paper is based on their recognition of the necessity to enhance the equipment and infrastructure available to the Defence Forces". These barrack closures move the Government closer to achieving the vision of the Defence Forces set out in the White Paper.

While the closure of barracks and the sale of the properties have provided funding for investment, it was never the driving factor for the consolidation of defence infrastructure. The White Paper acknowledged the current spread of barracks gave rise to significant inefficiencies in manning and organisation that needed to be addressed.

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