Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)

I accept there is no threat to the future of Custume Barracks in Athlone. It would be ludicrous in the current context considering it is now the biggest Army barracks in the country. However, the concern locally relates to the redeployment of troops from Custume Barracks to other barracks around the country. Could the Minister clarify whether such a redeployment will take place and the number that will be involved if Custume Barracks were to lose the western command headquarters which it currently holds?

It was pointed out in the PricewaterhouseCoopers report that to maximise the use of resources, the best thing to do would be to have a two-brigade structure, one for the northern half of the country which could be easily operated from Custume Barracks in Athlone, and one for the southern half of the country and to have a taskforce for the Dublin area – that there should not be a brigade headquarters based in Dublin. What is the status of the PricewaterhouseCoopers report? Will its recommendations be taken into consideration before a final decision is made?

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