Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

That is okay, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I welcome the opportunity to get to this question but the second question will not be answered because the Government could not be bothered to turn up and have a quorum in order that Question Time could start on time. It is simply not good enough.

On this question, in November 2011, the Government, with the support of the Labour Party, decided to close Columb Barracks, Mullingar. The following March, 170 members of the 4th Field Artillery moved from Mullingar to Athlone with a loss of €8 million to €10 million to the local economy. Since then, little or nothing has been done by the Government to source an alternative use for this barracks. Perhaps the Minister could update me on his future plans for the use of this barracks.

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