Gabrielle McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is my first speech in Dáil Éireann and I ask the House to indulge me for a moment to allow me to thank the people of the Longford-Westmeath constituency for placing their trust in me. I am truly grateful to them. I also thank my supporters and my family for their help and encouragement. I am also extremely grateful for the support of my colleagues in Leinster House during my first few weeks here. I am very proud to be here and I wish to continue the very good work of my sister, Nicky, on behalf of the people of Longford-Westmeath. I am grateful for this opportunity.

When the Taoiseach visited Athlone during my election campaign, he gave assurances at the Army barracks about the retention of the number of Army personnel in the town and about the future of the Army barracks there. These assurances were very welcome and I would be grateful if the Minister of State could today reiterate these commitments to the House.

Deputies from parts of the country which do not have an Army barracks may not be fully aware of the depth of pride communities such as Athlone, Mullingar and Longford have in them. I understand this pride personally because my grandfather, Jim McFadden, served in Athlone as a sergeant major for many years. Unfortunately, in 2012, Athlone saw the 4th Western Brigade lose its brigade status. Soldiers of the 4th Western Brigade have served overseas with great courage and dignity in the Congo, the Lebanon, Kosovo, East Timor, Liberia and Chad. Men and women have been proud to wear the brigade badge, the sword in hand, wherever they represented our country. This is not to mention the work Army personnel do on duty in Portlaoise, or the work they do in times of crisis in our communities, as they did in Athlone in 2009 during the flooding.

We still have not been officially told why the barracks was downgraded. If it was for economic reasons, which I believe it probably was, will the Minister of State please inform the House where and how these savings are being made, because the people of Athlone cannot see it? If the downgrading is part of a wider strategic plan, can we be informed of it? Will the Minister of State tell us where the barracks in Athlone fits into this thinking? Uncertainty is now part of the problem . We hear many rumours on a daily basis about the closure of Athlone barracks, including this week, when a local opposition councillor got a headline in a local newspaper in Roscommon regarding new fears for the future of the barracks in Athlone.

We need clarity about the future of Custume Barracks. The withdrawal of barracks status means more than economics to the people of the midlands; it has wounded the pride of an entire community. I would be grateful for answers from the Minister of State.

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