Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 12: To ask the Minister for Defence if control of the former Magee Barracks, Kildare, County Kildare has been handed back to his Department; if so, his plans to ensure the barracks does not continue to be a blight on the townscape due to its dilapidated condition and the anti-social behaviour that takes place there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42233/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Government decided on 1 July 2003 that the former Magee Barracks in Kildare town would be among the State lands released to Kildare County Council for inclusion in the sustaining progress affordable housing initiative. My Department has been involved in the process of transferring ownership to Kildare County Council with the final contract of sale being sent to the solicitors for Kildare County Council earlier this year.

However, in light of the recent significant changes in the housing market and the associated implications for affordable housing, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is reviewing the affordable housing initiative and will be bringing proposals to the Government presently. The Magee Barracks site is being considered in that context.

The project board established to oversee the development of the site via a public private partnership has recently concluded the site cannot economically be developed at this time for the purposes of the affordable housing initiative. My Department will consider the future of the site in the light of any decisions reached by the Government. In the meantime, arrangements are being made to enhance the security of the site.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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From the information I have received, the site has become derelict and a blight on the townscape while also attracting much anti-social behaviour. It has become an embarrassment to the Defence Forces and local authority. Will the Minister assign responsibility for cleaning up the site, making it presentable and safe? Is there some way the site can be screened off so that it does not continue to be a centre for anti-social behaviour?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The difficulty is that the Department was meant to hand this site over to Kildare County Council, which would be responsible for it. It has decided - or is on the point of doing so - not to proceed to take legal delivery of the site and to hand it back to the Department.

I have already given an instruction to my Department to take the appropriate measures to cleaning up the site and securing it with fencing.