Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Wall very much for raising this issue and the issue of the Curragh Camp, which he knows well. I, too, appreciate the historical importance of the Curragh Camp to many members of the Defence Forces and their families. I am sympathetic to the sense of attachment many serving and former members of the Defences Forces have to the camp. It is no longer a location where significant numbers of people live, particularly families and dependants.

Regarding the proposals by the military authorities to close the Defence Forces Training Centre, DFTC, fire station, the military authorities have been engaged with officials from my Department on this matter since 2023. In December 2024, my Department was informed by the Chief of Staff that a military operational decision had been taken by the military authorities to proceed with the closure of the fire station. In advance of the execution and promulgation of this decision, the then Tánaiste directed the Chief of Staff to advise both the chief executive of Kildare County Council and all residents and occupiers of the premises in the DFTC of the decision. Confirmation that this has been actioned is awaited from military management. I will come back to Deputy Wall directly when I have that. I must emphasise, however, that this is an operational decision taken by the military authorities rather than a decision taken by the Department of Defence or the Government of Ireland.

With regard to the provision of living quarters for enlisted members in the Curragh Camp, I thank Deputy Wall for giving me the opportunity to outline the recent and planned future improvements in this area. At the end of 2024, more than €232 million worth of capital projects were at various stages of development, with another record allocation this year of €50 million to improve the built infrastructure. Deputy Wall may wish to note that two of the accommodation projects commencing this year relate to the DFTC, namely, a new student accommodation facility and the refurbishment of Ceannt Block 1. A consultant was commissioned by the Defence Forces to assess the condition of the vacant housing in barracks and its suitability for conversion or refurbishment to provide for additional single living-in accommodation for Defence Force personnel. This has recently been furnished to my Department. It is currently being reviewed by officials. Once my officials and the Defence Forces have considered the contents, they will submit recommendations to me on the remediation programme to be undertaken.

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