Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are looking at the possibility of providing a Garda facility within the confines of the barracks. It is an issue that does not just involve my Department. It also involves the Office of Public Works, which is responsible for constructing Garda stations and acquiring sites for them.

As the Deputy knows well, this property is owned by the Department of Defence and, as was the case with the previous Governments he supported, it is recognised that barracks which closed were valuable assets. Funding realised from their sale is kept within the Defence Forces for resourcing purposes at a time when we are all concerned to ensure the Defence Forces have adequate resources so they can maintain their high skill levels and efficiencies. I have an obligation as Minister for Defence to ensure when new arrangements are put in place, some value for the barracks derives to the Department of Defence for the benefit of the Defence Forces. Wearing both my hats, I assure the Deputy we are constructively engaged in addressing this issue.

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