Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 104: To ask the Minister for Defence if it is planned to close further barracks and posts; if contingency plans are being prepared for the implementation of possible future decisions to close individual barracks or posts and transfer the units and personnel concerned to other locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3611/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The closure of barracks and the consolidation of the Defence Forces formations into a smaller number of locations is a key objective of the White Paper on Defence. The dispersal of personnel over an extended number of locations is a major impediment to essential collective training. It also imposes increased and unnecessary overheads on the Defence Forces in terms of barrack management, administration, maintenance and security. The consolidation process is designed to facilitate higher training standards, while also freeing up under-utilised resources and personnel for operational duties.

The development and increased capability of the modern Defence Forces, when taken together with the improved security situation along the border, removed the rationale for having seven barracks and posts along the border and provided the opportunity for consolidation of units in a smaller number of locations. In framing the 2009 budget the Government, therefore, decided to reduce the number of army barracks to bring it more into line with operational requirements of the Defence Forces and to achieve economies of scale.

My Department and the Defence Forces continually review Defence Forces requirements in relation to barracks, infrastructure and other military installations. While further consolidation is desirable from an operational and training perspective, it will be important to let the most recent changes bed down. As such, there are no immediate plans for further barrack closures.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Does the Minister agree that there should be an agreed format in consultation with PDFORRA and RACO for the orderly closure of barracks if such closure is decided? Let us face it, the White Paper suggests a number of barracks may have to be closed. An orderly approach was not taken in the announcement of recent closures.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I have no difficulty with Deputy Deenihan's suggestion. The particular closures we are discussing and which have just taken place were part of a budget announcement and it is not permissible to discuss aspects of the budget in advance so we can prepare for their implementation. This was the difficulty.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Surely the fact that the principle is in the White Paper means it need not have been announced in the budget.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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It was decided as part of the budget process. If further barracks closures take place it would be preferable if it were decided outside the budgetary process so advance consultation could take place. However, it could not take place in this case because it was part of a budgetary process.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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It strikes me that in the context of the cuts indicated between 2009 and 2013 some discussion must have taken place with regard to further barracks closures. The level of cutbacks this year is €2 billion and it will be €4 billion next year and the year after, €3.5 billion the following year and €3 billion the year after that. Is it realistic for the Minister to tell the House that there will not be barracks closures as part of these savings?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The savings we have decided on at present is almost €2 billion in current expenditure for the remainder of 2009. This is across Departments and includes the pension levy. As Members will have seen in today's newspapers, the Department of Defence has played its part. The savings contributed by the Department of Defence to this year's €2 billion, which is all we have discussed, does not include barrack closures.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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How can we believe the Minister today when he came down to the people of Longford two weeks before the election and in the presence of local Deputy, Peter Kelly, pledged that Longford barracks would not close on his watch? With the demand for building land at an all-time low it makes no economic sense to close Longford barracks. Does the Minister understand the trauma and hurt caused to the wives, partners and children of army personnel who served in Longford?

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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With regard to funding arising from the disposal of the installations closed down has any determination been made as to what use precisely it will be put? Will it be used to upgrade or improve the Defence Forces or aspects of their activity? Will a portion or all of it go to the Exchequer?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I made that commitment in good faith. The economic situation changed dramatically since then and the Department of Defence was asked to come up with savings. The only way we could make savings under some subheads was to close a number of barracks. This was done along the Border area where the British had closed practically all of their installations in view of the disappearance of the security threat.

I understand the difficulty and trauma of the people of Longford which has been communicated to me. I have friends in Longford too. Deputy Bannon may not know it but I have good friends——

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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No kidding.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Indeed I have.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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The Minister has very few left.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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The Minister used to have.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I hope I still do.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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The Minister has not visited Longford in recent times. There is no welcome for him.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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All the Minister has is photographs and memories.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Allow the Minister to conclude.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I passed through it quite recently and a few people waved in a very friendly manner at me.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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They seemed very friendly, Minister.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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It is lucky the Minister is a small little man and he was not seen.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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The Minister left very quickly.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Maybe they were only trying to encourage me to stop.

With regard to Deputy Durkan's question there is an arrangement in the Departments of Defence and Finance that the proceeds from the sale of Department of Defence assets go to the Department of Defence. That has been the case traditionally. We use the proceeds to improve the infrastructure and equipment available to the Army. The money will be coming to us.