Dáil debates
Thursday, 19 June 2014
Topical Issue Debate
Army Barracks Closures
5:45 pm
Gabrielle McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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This is my first speech in Dáil Éireann and I ask the House to indulge me for a moment to allow me to thank the people of the Longford-Westmeath constituency for placing their trust in me. I am truly grateful to them. I also thank my supporters and my family for their help and encouragement. I am also extremely grateful for the support of my colleagues in Leinster House during my first few weeks here. I am very proud to be here and I wish to continue the very good work of my sister, Nicky, on behalf of the people of Longford-Westmeath. I am grateful for this opportunity.
When the Taoiseach visited Athlone during my election campaign, he gave assurances at the Army barracks about the retention of the number of Army personnel in the town and about the future of the Army barracks there. These assurances were very welcome and I would be grateful if the Minister of State could today reiterate these commitments to the House.
Deputies from parts of the country which do not have an Army barracks may not be fully aware of the depth of pride communities such as Athlone, Mullingar and Longford have in them. I understand this pride personally because my grandfather, Jim McFadden, served in Athlone as a sergeant major for many years. Unfortunately, in 2012, Athlone saw the 4th Western Brigade lose its brigade status. Soldiers of the 4th Western Brigade have served overseas with great courage and dignity in the Congo, the Lebanon, Kosovo, East Timor, Liberia and Chad. Men and women have been proud to wear the brigade badge, the sword in hand, wherever they represented our country. This is not to mention the work Army personnel do on duty in Portlaoise, or the work they do in times of crisis in our communities, as they did in Athlone in 2009 during the flooding.
We still have not been officially told why the barracks was downgraded. If it was for economic reasons, which I believe it probably was, will the Minister of State please inform the House where and how these savings are being made, because the people of Athlone cannot see it? If the downgrading is part of a wider strategic plan, can we be informed of it? Will the Minister of State tell us where the barracks in Athlone fits into this thinking? Uncertainty is now part of the problem . We hear many rumours on a daily basis about the closure of Athlone barracks, including this week, when a local opposition councillor got a headline in a local newspaper in Roscommon regarding new fears for the future of the barracks in Athlone.
We need clarity about the future of Custume Barracks. The withdrawal of barracks status means more than economics to the people of the midlands; it has wounded the pride of an entire community. I would be grateful for answers from the Minister of State.
5:55 pm
Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy McFadden for raising this very important issue. This was also a very important issue for her late sister, Nicky, who also raised issues with regard to the Defence Forces and personnel in Athlone. I wish Deputy McFadden well as a recently elected Member of the House. I am pleased to reaffirm the Government's commitment to Custume Barracks in Athlone.
The background to recent developments at the barracks and for the Defence Forces arise in the context of the need to achieve a more effective and efficient organisational arrangement. Arising from the comprehensive review of expenditure in 2011, the Government decided to stabilise the strength ceiling of the Permanent Defence Force, PDF, at 9,500 personnel. The three brigade structure then in place had originally been designed in the 1990s, when the strength ceiling of the PDF was 11,500 personnel. At a strength ceiling of 9,500 personnel, stretched over three brigades, those organisational structures were clearly no longer efficient.
In this context, the Minister for Defence initiated a major re-organisation of the Defence Forces, encompassing the consolidation of three under-strength Army brigades into two full-strength brigades. This was to optimise the operational effectiveness of the Permanent Defence Force within the revised strength ceiling and ensure that the Defence Forces could continue to fulfil all roles assigned by the Government.
Key aspects of the re-organisation included the consolidation of under-strength units into a smaller number of full strength units, a reduction in the number of headquarters and the associated re-deployment of personnel from administrative and support functions to operational units. Within the three brigade structure, brigade headquarters were located in Cork, Dublin and Athlone. Following the consolidation of three Army brigades into two larger brigades, it was decided that the two new brigades would have headquarters in Cork and Dublin. This decision was in accordance with recommendations brought forward by the Chief of Staff and the Secretary General of the Department of Defence.
At the time of the re-organisation there was speculation in Athlone that the number of PDF personnel serving in Custume Barracks would be reduced by approximately 400. This was based on an incorrect assumption that 1,400 personnel were based in Custume Barracks at that time. This figure is based on the number of personnel that would have been in Custume Barracks if the PDF strength was at 11,500 personnel. This strength level had not been seen since the 1990s and, in this context, the figure of 1,400 personnel bears no relationship to the number of PDF personnel based in Custume Barracks in recent years. The Minister for Defence previously stated that following the implementation of the re-organisation, approximately 1,000 PDF personnel would be stationed at Custume Barracks within an overall PDF strength of 9,500 personnel. I have been advised by the military authorities that at 30 April 2014, the latest date for which figures are available, the number of personnel whose home station was Custume Barracks was 920. This was within an actual overall PDF strength figure of 9,110 at that date. However, it should be noted that recruitment to the Defence Forces is ongoing.
The Department is engaged in an ongoing capital building programme designed to modernise and enhance the training, operational and accommodation facilities available to members of the Defence Forces. Under this programme, there has been considerable capital investment at Custume Barracks in recent years. Recent major projects undertaken include the construction of armoured vehicle garaging facilities, a gymnasium and an upgrading of gas and water main facilities, including the provision of new underground services and associated works. In addition to the major capital projects, there are ongoing works to ensure the upkeep and repair of buildings at the barracks.
The reorganisation has maintained the operational capacity of the Defence Forces to the greatest extent possible, within the available resource envelope. It has allowed the Permanent Defence Force to continue to fulfil all roles assigned. This remains a key focus of the Chief of Staff and the Secretary General of the Department of Defence. Custume Barracks continues to be an important operational military barracks following the re-organisation of the Defence Forces and I stress there are no plans to change this. There are no plans to reduce the numbers at Custume Barracks and the commitment figure given will be maintained.
Gabrielle McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State. It pleases me greatly to hear Custume Barracks will not close and that the rumours and the headlines in the local newspapers are incorrect. I acknowledge the considerable capital investment in Custume Barracks and the fact the air ambulance is there, which is a great service for the midlands and the entire country. The air ambulance based in Athlone is a pilot scheme and I hope the Minister of State will confirm today what is its future. I am very pleased to have it put on record that Custume Barracks will remain open.
Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The Taoiseach, in his role as Minister for Defence, and I, in my role as Minister of State at the Department of Defence, visited Athlone barracks a number of weeks ago. We saw at first hand the importance of the air ambulance service. We are awaiting a report on the service. It is an excellent service not alone for Athlone, but also for the midlands in general.
Deputy McFadden stated there were rumours in the local newspapers, including last week, about the future of Custume Barracks. Let me state to the local newspapers in Athlone and Roscommon that I hope they will give the same headlines to the statement I made today as they did to the rumours last week. I very much appreciate Deputy McFadden raising the important issue of Custume Barracks in Athlone.
I understand and am aware of its importance to the local economy in Athlone. I assure the Deputy that she has my full commitment, as well as that of the Government, that there are no fears or plans to close Custume Barracks, Athlone or to reduce numbers there. Custume Barracks, Athlone plays an integral part within the wider Defence Forces organisation nationwide and the Government has committed to the numbers there. I note Deputy McFadden also mentioned the service personnel from Custume Barracks have given on peacekeeping missions abroad. I greatly appreciate this service and have been on ministerial reviews with troops going abroad from Athlone. Moreover, I have met many troops from the greater Athlone area and from Custume Barracks who were based in the Golan Heights, in Lebanon and further afield. I am aware of the excellent job they have done and the commitment they have given, and in return for the commitment they have given to the Defence Forces, the Government has given a commitment back that there are no fears of Custume Barracks, Athlone closing or of a reduction in numbers there.