Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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5. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence for an update on a proposed fire station closure at the Curragh Camp; to provide an update on the provision of living quarters for enlisted members in the Curragh Camp; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6504/25]

Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and apologise. I ask the Tánaiste for an update on the proposed closure of the fire station at the Curragh Camp and also provide an update on the provision of living quarters for enlisted members in the Curragh.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Wall very much for raising this issue and the issue of the Curragh Camp, which he knows well. I, too, appreciate the historical importance of the Curragh Camp to many members of the Defence Forces and their families. I am sympathetic to the sense of attachment many serving and former members of the Defences Forces have to the camp. It is no longer a location where significant numbers of people live, particularly families and dependants.

Regarding the proposals by the military authorities to close the Defence Forces Training Centre, DFTC, fire station, the military authorities have been engaged with officials from my Department on this matter since 2023. In December 2024, my Department was informed by the Chief of Staff that a military operational decision had been taken by the military authorities to proceed with the closure of the fire station. In advance of the execution and promulgation of this decision, the then Tánaiste directed the Chief of Staff to advise both the chief executive of Kildare County Council and all residents and occupiers of the premises in the DFTC of the decision. Confirmation that this has been actioned is awaited from military management. I will come back to Deputy Wall directly when I have that. I must emphasise, however, that this is an operational decision taken by the military authorities rather than a decision taken by the Department of Defence or the Government of Ireland.

With regard to the provision of living quarters for enlisted members in the Curragh Camp, I thank Deputy Wall for giving me the opportunity to outline the recent and planned future improvements in this area. At the end of 2024, more than €232 million worth of capital projects were at various stages of development, with another record allocation this year of €50 million to improve the built infrastructure. Deputy Wall may wish to note that two of the accommodation projects commencing this year relate to the DFTC, namely, a new student accommodation facility and the refurbishment of Ceannt Block 1. A consultant was commissioned by the Defence Forces to assess the condition of the vacant housing in barracks and its suitability for conversion or refurbishment to provide for additional single living-in accommodation for Defence Force personnel. This has recently been furnished to my Department. It is currently being reviewed by officials. Once my officials and the Defence Forces have considered the contents, they will submit recommendations to me on the remediation programme to be undertaken.

Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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The Curragh Camp is the jewel in the crown of the Defence Forces, as I and many Members of this House and the Upper House have said many times. The first thing anyone who drives through the Curragh Camp will notice is dereliction and the closed premises on the main street. The news that the fire station is to close has been greeted with disbelief by people who live in the Curragh because it seems to sound the death knell for the Curragh Camp. I ask the Tánaiste to outline his plans, as the incoming Minister for Defence, to ensure the Curragh Camp survives and becomes the jewel in the crown of the Defence Forces again.

With regard to married quarters and encouraging members of the Defence Forces to continue in the Defence Forces, I am currently dealing with three families who cannot find accommodation in County Kildare. They are members of the Defence Forces, but they are finding it difficult. The issue facing them is whether to continue in the Defence Forces, yet I know of 83 derelict houses in the Curragh Camp.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Wall for raising this matter. I share his view that the Curragh is the jewel in the crown. There is a particular affinity and connection felt by many serving and former members of the Defence Forces and their families. I hope to visit the Curragh in the coming days. I would be delighted if Deputy Wall could join me when I do that. We can engage with people on the ground. I will endeavour to get there this month.

On the fire station decision, I will come back to the Deputy once the loop has been closed by the military authorities in terms of them having undertaken what they said they would do with regard to Kildare County Council and the like. I am excited, though, about the prospect of looking at the issue of vacant housing in the barracks and how we can convert and refurbish some of it and provide for additional accommodation for Defence Forces personnel. I look forward to getting those recommendations. I take the point, from a retention and recruitment point of view, that there is a clear link with the provision of accommodation. We will keep working on that.

Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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I welcome that the Tánaiste will visit the Curragh Camp. That is very important. I will take him up on his request that I accompany him on that visit because it will be important that we meet local representatives who are getting this on the ground from those who live in the Curragh and who have previously, as the Tánaiste said, served on the Curragh. The State needs to use the Curragh Camp and the Curragh itself more. I ask the Tánaiste to look at other Government agencies. The Curragh Camp is right next to the M7 motorway and is a great facility. We should be expanding it at this stage, not looking at stages where we need investment in the Curragh Camp. I have spoken to a number of other local agencies throughout Kildare that would love to be able to use the Curragh Camp. We need to discuss trying to expand the military facilities on the Curragh and including other agencies that are crying out for space in County Kildare. I look forward to a meeting on the Curragh and to further discussing its future with the Tánaiste.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I very much look forward to it too. Deputy Wall is right because not only is the Curragh, to use his phrase, the jewel in the crown from a Defence Forces point of view and a valuable resource for the Defence Forces, but more broadly it is also an incredible resource for the people of Kildare and Ireland. If we look at some of what we have managed to achieve together as a country in recent years in terms of the expansion of public spaces and so forth, there is so much more that could be done with the Curragh. I know Deputy Wall and other representatives from Kildare have been involved in engagement around a plan for the Curragh. I look forward to visiting the Curragh and engaging with the Deputy and others on it very shortly.