Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Question 42: To ask the Minister for Defence the plans he has to ensure the ongoing sustainability and development of Kickham Barracks, Clonmel, County Tipperary. [12133/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Various commissions, reports and studies dating back to the 1990s identified barrack closure as a fundamental requirement towards improving military effectiveness and efficiency. The dispersal of Defence Forces personnel over an extended number of locations is a major impediment to essential collective training and the consolidation process is designed to facilitate higher training standards while freeing up under-utilised resources and personnel for operational duties. In addition, the funding realised from the disposal of surplus barracks and properties provides some of the resources required for infrastructure, training area development and equipment procurement.

The defence property portfolio is kept under review to ensure the most effective use of military resources having regard to the roles assigned by the Government to the Defence Forces. In this context, the dispersal of personnel over an extended number of locations is a major impediment to effectiveness and imposes increased and unnecessary overheads on the Defence Forces in terms of barrack management, administration, maintenance and security. The consolidation of the Defence Forces formations into a smaller number of locations is a key objective for me as we strive to maximise the effectiveness of the Defence Forces. While no decision has been made on the future of any military installation, I cannot give a commitment that there will not be further programmes of barrack consolidation.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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I too am concerned, as Kickham Barracks is in a strategic location in the south east, with valuable personnel. I am sure the Defence Forces and the Garda Síochána were of great assistance in the past week with the visits of the Queen and President Obama to Tipperary. I would like to be associated fully and wholeheartedly with the comments the Minister made about the Garda. However, I have concerns about the future of the installation in Clonmel, which provides vital services in the community. I ask the Minister to pay a visit to Kickham Barracks to see first-hand what goes on and what a strategic location it is.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputies McGrath and Calleary for their complimentary comments about the performance of the Defence Forces over the past week, which elicited a substantial amount of public admiration, including internationally. The manner in which our Defence Forces presented themselves and conducted their duties has resulted in substantial praise from different parts of the world. They should feel proud of themselves and we in the House should feel proud of them.

I appreciate the concerns expressed by the Deputy. As I said earlier, the key criterion will be the requirement to move towards improving military effectiveness and efficiency, and we must do so in the context of the difficult economic climate with which we are confronted and the limited funds available to the Government for current expenditure.

With the present spread of barracks, individual infantry battalions and their support services are spread over a number of locations. This has a severe impact on their ability to be fully effective, and must be addressed. However, as I said to the Deputy, no decisions have been made. Should I get the opportunity, I would be happy to accept the Deputy's invitation.