Nicky McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me the opportunity to speak, and the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter, for attending the House. I raise the matter of the 4th Western Brigade of the Defence Forces, which is based at Custume Barracks, Athlone, where it continues to operate within the new Defence Forces structure.

Custume Barracks was established at the conclusion of the Jacobite war, when much of the town of Athlone was in ruins following the great siege of 1691. The barracks has always played a vital role in the community and continues to do so. The 4th Western Brigade includes the 6th Infantry Battalion, located in Custume Barracks and Cavan; the 1st Infantry Battalion in Galway; the 28th Infantry Battalion in Donegal; the 4th Field Engineers in Custume Barracks; the 4th Logistical Support Unit located in Custume Barracks; the 4th Cavalry Squadron, which relocated from Longford to Athlone; and the 4th Field Artillery Regiment, which will relocate from Mullingar to Athlone.

This year Custume Barracks will welcome more than 300 new troops as a result of the announcement in December that Columb Barracks in Mullingar and O'Neills Army Barracks in Cavan were to close. More than 170 troops from Mullingar and 130 troops from Cavan will move to the Athlone barracks which already accommodates approximately 900 troops. The closure of Columb Barracks in Mullingar came as a shock to the soldiers and their families. However, the Department has worked to ensure that the transfer to Athlone would be as smooth as possible and that there would be greater flexibility in the training and deployment of the whole Western Brigade.

There is growing concern in the constituency over the future status of Custume Barracks following the announcement that the Defence Forces is to lose one of its brigades, thereby moving from a three brigade structure to two brigades. The Minister has already given assurances that the restructuring will not include any further closures of Army barracks, which is welcome. However, the loss of brigade headquarter status in Athlone is still a major source of worry as it could result in the loss of certain specialised units.

I understand the Minister has requested the Chief of Staff and the Secretary General of the Department to produce a report on the reorganisation options for the Defence Forces. These recommendations are due at the end of the month. I fully accept that a reorganisation of the Defence Forces must take place in order to retain troop levels at a sustainable level and to release people in administration to the front line. However, although no decision has been reached, I urge the Minister, in the strongest terms possible, to ensure the 4th Western Brigade is retained as part of the new two brigade structure.

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