Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My Department wrote to the Department of Education and Skills and chief executive of Westmeath County Council. It has made numerous approaches to the county council on handing over the former Columb Barracks. The chief executive indicated the county council does not have any use for the barracks, although I am not sure if members of Westmeath County Council voted on the issue. It is wrong to claim my Department has not communicated with other organisations. If I receive a proposal from the education and training board regarding the sale of the barracks, I will consider it, as I will any proposal from any group or organisation in County Westmeath, whether a voluntary body or local authority.

The Deputy mentioned security. Security is provided at the barracks in Mullingar for the reasons I outlined earlier. If there was no security there and a serious incident or accident occurred, the matter would come across my desk.

See this speech in context