Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left) | Oireachtas source

I am aware of that, but I am also aware that well over €500,000 had been spent on security. While some movement has occurred, it is not enough in the case of Columb Barracks. We could do much more. The idea of using the barracks as a national emergency training centre has been raised. It is not true to say that it is being utilised. The Reserve Defence Force unit is renting premises at a cost to the Department of Defence of approximately €30,000, Westmeath Civil Defence operates from leaky prefabs in another area and the Garda uses the shooting range, but none of this is enough. Will the Minister of State consider developing the site as a national emergency training centre? All of the State's organisations could use it, the local Reserve Defence Force unit could act as its staff, training could be undertaken during the summer, a crash training centre of excellence could be developed there and it could be used for water rescue training as well as rail disaster training, given its proximity to a disused railway. There is also an airfield. I would like the Minister of State to consider this suggestion as a better use of funds.

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