Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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53. To ask the Minister for Defence the concrete steps he has taken to secure an alternative use for Columb Barracks in Mullingar in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2739/16]

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I apologise to Deputy Troy that he was waiting a long time.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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That is okay, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I welcome the opportunity to get to this question but the second question will not be answered because the Government could not be bothered to turn up and have a quorum in order that Question Time could start on time. It is simply not good enough.

On this question, in November 2011, the Government, with the support of the Labour Party, decided to close Columb Barracks, Mullingar. The following March, 170 members of the 4th Field Artillery moved from Mullingar to Athlone with a loss of €8 million to €10 million to the local economy. Since then, little or nothing has been done by the Government to source an alternative use for this barracks. Perhaps the Minister could update me on his future plans for the use of this barracks.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Following the closure of Columb Barracks, my Department wrote to Departments and other public bodies inviting them to express any interest in the property with a view to its disposal by the Department. No such interest was expressed at that time. My officials also met local representatives and officials from Westmeath County Council to discuss the future of the barracks.

As the Deputy will be aware, my Department was approached by the Westmeath GAA county board for the use of the barracks as a training centre. Parts of the barracks in Mullingar are used by the county board on a short-term lease. The former barracks is also used by An Garda Síochána and Customs and Excise for training purposes. A number of other local groups, including the Irish United Nations Veterans Association, IUNVA, the Order of Malta and the Midland Youth Services, have also been allocated units in the barracks. My Department has also received numerous requests from other community groups wishing to avail of accommodation within the barracks.

While the Department supports the ongoing use of the barracks by the local community, the financial and administrative burden resulting from the retention of the barracks cannot be sustained, given that the barracks is no longer required for military purposes.

Officials from the Department are scheduled to meet the CEO of Westmeath County Council this week to discuss the long-term future plans for the barracks. They would also be happy to discuss, with any interested groups, any proposals they may have for the possible purchase and future development of the site for the benefit of the local community. This is in keeping with the Department’s policy to dispose of surplus property no longer required for military purposes. We have spoken to all the stakeholders and, with them, we are trying to develop a plan which is in the interests of the local community and other interested groups in the area.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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It is disgraceful that, four years on, the Minister is trying to develop a plan. From what the Minister has told me, during the past four years his Department has written to the various State agencies and received some correspondence. Were it not for the proactive engagement of Westmeath GAA, the retired UN veterans and Midlands Regional Youth Service, nothing would be happening in the barracks.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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It is part of the process. The Deputy should stop playing politics.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Where is the strategic plan for the long-term sustainable use of the barracks? The Minister does not have one. If he does, perhaps he could share it with us. Four years after the barracks closed, the Minister has no long-term strategic plan for the use of the barracks. If I am wrong, the Minister may correct me. We made a proposal to the Minister to create a national headquarters for the Reserve Defence Force in the barracks. He dismissed it, although it had the support of some of my constituency colleagues. In Mullingar, we are spending €30,000 per annum to rent private accommodation for the Reserve Defence Force while half our barracks remains unused.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The problem is that the Deputy is trying to turn this into a political football. The Deputy should know, although he probably does not, that the approach towards the Reserve Defence Force has changed. We now have a one force strategy whereby the reserves train with Permanent Defence Force personnel so they can work with them should they be required to do so rather than having them operate in a separate structure and training separately from the Permanent Defence Force. It did not make sense to establish a training centre for the Reserve Defence Force when we want reservists training in active barracks to ensure they are integrated into the Permanent Defence Force in terms of functionality, use, training and professionalism.

We are the Department of Defence. Our job is to ensure the defence infrastructure of the country is right. If we have a barracks that is no longer in use for defence and military purposes, we need to work with all the stakeholders to find sustainable uses for it. However, we must work with local authorities to ensure it is consistent with what they are looking for locally, and this is happening.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister said I was playing politics. It was a political decision by his Government to close the barracks over four years ago. Since then, precious little has happened. The Minister said he wrote to the various stakeholders. During the past four years, how many times have the Minister or his officials met the CEO of Westmeath County Council regarding the potential future use of the barracks?

The Minister has talked about a policy of having the Reserve Defence Force training with the Permanent Defence Force. The Permanent Defence Force is not training in a warehouse in Clonmore Industrial Estate, where the Department is paying €30,000 per annum for the Reserve Defence Force training in Mullingar. The Government is wasting €30,000 paying a private landlord while some of the barracks remains unused.

After four years, what analysis, research or audit has been carried out on the future use of the barracks? As I asked at the beginning, have the Minister, his party or the Government prepared a sustainable plan for the long-term use of the barracks?

The Minister has not answered my question.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy can keep asking the same question if he wants, but he will get the same answer. If this barracks of approximately 24 acres is to be developed, a partnership will be needed to find sustainable and good community uses for it. That is why we have been working to accommodate the GAA, the Garda Síochána, Westmeath County Council and other groups, including voluntary groups, in the short term. Ultimately, the local authority in the area needs to engage in planning and zoning to ensure the future use of this barracks is consistent with other things that are happening in the environment. I am not-----

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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How many meetings has the Minister had with Westmeath County Council?

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy seems to want the Department of Defence to go away and come back with some kind of super plan in isolation.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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After four years, how much engagement has the Minister had with the local authority?

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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We have-----

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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We have to go on to the next question.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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There is ongoing engagement with Westmeath County Council on the best use of this barracks.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I ask the Minister to quantify that.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I do not have the exact number to hand.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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How many meetings have taken place after four years?

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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An initiative needs to come from the county council and the Department of Defence to ensure there is active community use and benefit coming from the barracks.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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It is not happening.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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That process is very much under way.