Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I will focus on the threatened barracks closure in my constituency and I appeal to the Minister, Deputy Shatter, to support the retention of Dún Uí Néill Barracks in Cavan, as well as its full complement of serving soldiers and civilian employees. I believe Cavan to be an important location for the Defence Forces, allowing speedy response to any given situation arising right across the counties of Leitrim, Cavan and Monaghan. On foot of the closure of the Monaghan barracks and the earlier closures of Cootehill and Castleblayney, Dún Uí Néill became home to many of those displaced members. That they and their families would be obliged to face further displacement with all that entails, including housing mortgage renegotiations in the most difficult of times across this sector and resecuring the education needs of their children, is grossly unfair and may force some to leave. Is the dole queue their only future? Surely this is not the objective.

Built in 1990, Dún Uí Néill is a purpose-built Irish Defence Forces barracks, not a vacated facility from another century. I understand it is a fine facility that meets the needs of its complement of 150 serving soldiers and ten civilian staff. For the wives and partners of those currently serving in Lebanon, of whom I am informed 22 are members attached to Dún Uí Néill, this period of great uncertainty is doubly difficult. A new communications mast was installed in 2010, but at what cost? What real financial gains were made from the earlier barracks closures in counties Monaghan and Donegal and elsewhere? What are the prospects of getting a worthwhile return from such properties and sites in these straitened economic times? What cost would be incurred if, God forbid, another farm related outbreak occurred north of the Border and it was necessary to deploy soldiers? Where would they be billeted? A local GP is medical officer at Dún Uí Néill. This is an important relationship and is one that would not be quickly re-established elsewhere. Moreover, the Reserve Defence Force unit in Cavan also is based at Dún Uí Néill. What would be the cost of alternative premises or does the Minister propose its disbandment, severing finally a close and honoured relationship between the town and county of Cavan and the Defence Forces? I have spoken to some family members of serving members attached to Dún Uí Néill who describe the atmosphere in their homes today as being akin to wake houses. This is a dreadful position in which to place these families. If Dún Uí Néill is to close, the financial advantages are far from clear. This is the most economical barracks in the State and, if vacated, it would require expensive security until its future was determined. Light and heat certainly would be a factor as the buildings surely would not be allowed to decline through the absence of heat in the ravages of our far from idyllic climate.

The real pain, of course, will be borne by the serving soldiers, their wives and partners and especially by their children. What will a serving member who is already in negative equity do? How will he or she cope with a crippling debt to a bank or building society following the sale of his or her home? How will such a member ever again hope to enter into home ownership? No loans are being given out and certainly not to low to middle income earners who are already burdened by a carry-on debt. Credit unions are working under even greater restrictions than previously and will be unable to step into the breach and meet the borrowing needs of dozens of displaced soldiers and their families. Will the Department of Defence and the Exchequer bail out these men and women and their families? What will be the loss to the economy of Cavan town and county? It is estimated that a sum of approximately €3 million per annum, comprising wages spent and supplies secured across the Breifne county, will be taken out of circulation. This will have a knock-on effect with more jobs lost, especially in the retail and services sectors.

The serving soldiers attached to Dún Uí Néill have made an important contribution to the State, the county of Cavan and the wider region. They have given service to individuals and whole communities struggling to deal with a variety of challenges. They have helped to keep the emergency services in action in the worst of weather conditions, with last winter being a particular example when they presented day and night to assist with all needs. I urge the Minister, Deputy Shatter, to visit Dún Uí Néill in the days ahead. Nothing will impress on him more the importance of retaining Dún Uí Néill as a vibrant Defence Forces barracks than his own first-hand observation and experience, and I have no doubt that he would receive a warm welcome at this, one of only two surviving Ulster-based Defence Forces facilities. I urge the Minister to so act.

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