Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)

I thank the Minister for his response and for meeting the deputation from Clonmel last Thursday. In regard to any decision to close any of the barracks - Clonmel is the one about which I am most concerned - surely the focus should not only be on the effects on the Department of Defence. Surely there should be a full appraisal of all the consequences of a closure and a full cost benefit analysis of all the effects of a closure, including the effects on families.

It has been said there will be no redundancies or job losses as a result of this but what is meant is that there will be no compulsory job losses. Significant numbers of soldiers will not be able to transfer, as the Minister said. The Clonmel people have indicated that in the event of a closure, it would cost a family in the region of an additional €3,000 per year for transport. That means many soldiers will find themselves in the position of having to leave the Defence Forces. There will be knock-on effects in regard to additional social welfare payments and higher education grants payments, for instance.

There will be significant effects on the local economy. At our meeting last week, the chief executive officer of the local chamber of commerce indicated that 30 local suppliers supplied the barracks. There is no doubt there will be knock-on effects resulting in jobs losses and probably even the closure of local businesses. Will the Minister focus not only on the Department of Defence but on the consequences of such a closure?

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