Dáil debates
Wednesday, 15 February 2017
Other Questions
Army Barracks
2:45 pm
Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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42. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the level of consultation he had with the Department of Education and Skills or Longford and Westmeath Education and Training Board regarding the future use of Columb Barracks, Mullingar. [7099/17]
Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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74. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans for the future use of Columb Barracks, Mullingar. [7100/17]
Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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It is almost five years since Columb Barracks, Mullingar, closed its doors following the decision by the previous Fine Gael-Labour Party Government to close the barracks. What action has the Department taken in the intervening five years to try to secure a new tenant for the barracks? Specifically, has the Minister of State or his officials engaged with the Department of Education and Skills or Longford and Westmeath Education and Training Board on their interest in utilising the barracks for an educational institution?
Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 74 together.
Following the closure of Columb Barracks in 2012, my Department has explored a number of avenues to try to secure the long-term future of the former barracks for the benefit of the local community. Departments and other public bodies, including Westmeath County Council, have been invited on numerous occasions to declare an interest in acquiring the property. Westmeath County Council recently confirmed that it does not have any interest in acquiring the property.
In 2016, officials from my Department met the chief executive officer and officials of Longford and Westmeath Education and Training Board regarding possible use of Mullingar Barracks. The meeting included a visit to the barracks. To date, I have not received any proposal from the board regarding its future use of the barracks. There has also been no approach from the Department of Education and Skills regarding this matter.
Several months ago, officials from my Department attended a public meeting in Mullingar on the future use of the barracks. A local group was subsequently established to prepare a feasibility study on community use of the barracks. To date, however, the group has not furnished a report to my Department.
As the barracks is no longer required for military purposes, the current financial and administrative burden resulting from its retention cannot be sustained. The disposal of the property by public auction must now be progressed in keeping with the Government's policy and recent practice to dispose of surplus property no longer required for military purposes. However, in the context of its potential future use contributing to the positive development of Mullingar, my Department remains open to viable proposals to this end from public bodies.
Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister of State appeared to be expressing criticism of the community group for not producing a feasibility plan. To be fair to the organisation in question, it has exhausted many avenues and contacted various Departments to secure funding to carry out a feasibility study. However, funding has not been forthcoming.
The chief executive and board of the Longford and Westmeath Education and Training Board are very interested in the barracks site. The problem is the board requires funding to do so. The barracks is located on a substantial land-holding, which contains a significant number of properties and buildings. The education and training board requires confirmation that the Department of Education and Skills would provide funding if it were to acquire the barracks. The board is paying a substantial rent to lease a premises for its headquarters in Mullingar. It must provide post-leaving certificate courses and apprenticeships. I ask the Minister of State to engage with the Minister for Education and Skills to try to reach an agreement that would allow the facility to remain in State ownership for the benefit of the community.
Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I instructed an official in the property section of my Department to attend the public meeting of the community group in question. It is highly unusual for a civil servant to attend a public meeting organised by political representatives but I asked an official to attend to listen to the views of local people. I understand it was agreed at the meeting that the community group would submit a proposal to me. As I stated, I have not received any correspondence from any community group in Mullingar.
The barracks in Mullingar is not safe. If a young person were to enter the premises and sustain a serious injury, the matter would come back to my desk. I want to dispose of the barracks for this reason, unless a community group expresses an interest in acquiring it.
Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Troy may ask another supplementary question.
Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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On a point of clarification, I understand additional time is provided when questions are grouped.
Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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That is correct. The Deputy will have a further opportunity to contribute.
Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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While I accept the Minister of State's bona fides and his statement that he is trying to help, unfortunately it does not ring true on the ground. I organised the meeting to which he referred and the departmental official was made welcome. The Department is paying for security at the former barracks. Perhaps the Minister of State will consider diverting some of the funding for security to the local group to carry out a feasibility study.
What bothers me most is the attitude taken by many Ministers when they claim various matters are not their responsibility but the responsibility of another Department. There is no joined up thinking on this issue. We have a housing crisis and more than ten acres of the site could be used for new housing. Buildings on the barracks site could be used for the headquarters Longford and Westmeath Education and Training Board needs. A central location is required to provide apprenticeships and the barracks could be used for this purpose. My colleague, Deputy Chambers, spoke earlier about the need to restore the Reserve Defence Force. The Fianna Fáil Party made a submission to the Department during the term of the previous Government setting out how the facility could be used as a national headquarters for the Reserve Defence Force. The site offers many opportunities and great potential but no two Departments will talk to each other because everyone is operating in a silo. The only people for whom this will have negative consequences are those living in Mullingar.
Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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My Department wrote to the Department of Education and Skills and chief executive of Westmeath County Council. It has made numerous approaches to the county council on handing over the former Columb Barracks. The chief executive indicated the county council does not have any use for the barracks, although I am not sure if members of Westmeath County Council voted on the issue. It is wrong to claim my Department has not communicated with other organisations. If I receive a proposal from the education and training board regarding the sale of the barracks, I will consider it, as I will any proposal from any group or organisation in County Westmeath, whether a voluntary body or local authority.
The Deputy mentioned security. Security is provided at the barracks in Mullingar for the reasons I outlined earlier. If there was no security there and a serious incident or accident occurred, the matter would come across my desk.
2:55 pm
Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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The proposed use of this facility as an ETB centre is an interesting proposal. My colleague, Councillor Sorca Clarke, put in a request to the council for €20,000 for a feasibility study to be carried out but it was voted down by councillors from the Minister of State's party and by the Fianna Fáil Party of which Deputy Troy is a member, which is a pity. Will the Minister of State consider making available funding for a feasibility study on the use of this facility which, except for occasional use by a number of community groups, is vacant? It would be a shame if this facility did not remain in the public realm. Will the Minister of State consider my proposal?
Earlier this week a motion tabled by Councillor Sorca Clarke was passed by the Mullingar municipal district. The municipal district has written to the Department of Education and Skills to try to progress this matter. Will the Minister of State at the very least give a commitment that there will be no disposal of this facility while this current avenue is being pursued by the Department? I will ask the Department to keep the Minister of State updated of progress on that request.
Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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It is often somewhat dangerous to speak about a topic one is not 100% au faitwith. I can assure Deputy Ó Snodaigh that Fianna Fáil did not vote down any proposal at the council meeting on funding of €20,000.
Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I must ask the Deputy to confine his remarks to a question to the Minister of State.
Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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We can deal with the matter locally.
Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I accept that there is need for a timeline on this issue such that it can be brought to a conclusion. I want to see a conclusion which ensures the facility remains in State ownership for the benefit of the community. However, as I said, I accept there is need for a timeline to ensure everyone's mind is focused. What timeline does the Minister of State envisage being provided to allow for a full consultation process with the community groups and the Department of Education and Skills on takeover of the facility by the ETB? If that proposal fails, and I hope it does not, within what timeframe, will the Minister of State take alternative action? We need to know what we are working towards.
Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I will respond to the last question first. As stated as of 31 January 2017, I am actively progressing the sale of Mullingar barracks. As stated in my earlier reply, I will consider any proposal from any group, organisation or body in Mullingar or Westmeath for taking in charge of Mullingar barracks. As mentioned, the barracks has been vacant for almost five years. Every group and organisation, specifically Westmeath County Council, has had every opportunity to develop a proposal for the facility. There are numerous acres of ground surrounding the barracks that are suitable for housing but it is not the responsibility of the Department of Defence to build houses on behalf of Westmeath County Council or to carry out feasibility studies for the ETB or any other organisation. The provision of funding for a feasibility study is a matter for Westmeath County Council. I am not aware of any of my colleagues having voted down the provision of €20,000 in funding to the ETB or other organisation to carry out a feasibility study but I will check it out. I am progressing the sale of Mullingar barracks but I am open to all proposals from Westmeath County Council, the ETB and so on, in respect of which they should contact my Department.