Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 18 together.

As of now, as I said, no decision has been made by the Government on the future of any military installation. However, the issue of the closure of barracks will be considered shortly as part of the comprehensive review of expenditure.

Various commissions, reports and studies back to the 1990s identified barrack closures as a fundamental requirement for improving military effectiveness and efficiency. Since 1998 a total of ten barracks have been closed under two barrack consolidation programmes. A total of €84.98 million has been realised from the disposal of six of these barracks and part of another. The moneys received from the sales of these and other Defence properties have been reinvested in equipment and infrastructure for the Defence Forces.

My priority must be to ensure that all decisions about resource allocation are focused on maximizing the capabilities of the Defence Forces and ensuring their continued operational capacity. I am also anxious to ensure, in so far as is possible, that the Government is not compelled by fiscal and budgetary constraints to effect any substantial further reduction in the current number of personnel in the Defence Forces. As on previous occasions, a Defence Forces security assessment will inform deliberations.

I regret that, prior to this matter being considered by Government in the context of the overall review of expenditure, uncertainty has arisen as to the future of barracks and I know this is a cause of concern to members of the Defence Forces and to their family members, as referred to earlier. Unfortunately, the space in which we find ourselves is as a result of the dreadful financial legacy we have inherited and it is important in the context of the overall review of expenditure that I, as Minister, ensure our resources are applied efficiently and that we maximise the capabilities of the Defence Forces to the greatest possible extent.

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