Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

In the budget the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan, announced the closure of four barracks, two in Donegal, one in Longford and one in Monaghan. He suggested it would help the national finances. Far from helping the finances, extra costs will be accrued as a result of this announcement. There will be an extra cost of €2 million per annum for the change of station allowances, €600,000 extra for security and maintenance of these barracks and the cost of providing permanent and temporary building works to accommodate people when they are transferred to new locations, which will amount to approximately €30 million.

What are the savings? We need the Minister to come in and spell out the savings that will result from this announcement. It will cost the country money rather than save it. To announce the closure of barracks and that personnel must leave the barracks before 31 January, when we have seen previous barracks closures that have not yet been sold, is unacceptable. It is an example of an ill thought-out budget. It is a mess.

I ask the Leader to bring the Minister for Defence, Deputy Willie O'Dea, or the Minister for Finance to the House to explain where the savings will be made. It is a bad move. The barracks are far from my area, but, given the costs that will be accrued to transfer people, it is a dreadful exercise in economics.