Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

I thank Senator Wilson for raising this matter on the Adjournment. As of now, no decision has been made by the Government on the future of Cavan barracks or any other military installation. The issue of the closure of barracks no longer required for operational reasons to effect necessary savings will, however, be considered shortly by Government.

Various commissions, reports and studies back to the 1990s identified barrack closures as a fundamental requirement towards improving military effectiveness and efficiency. Since then there have been a number of consolidation programmes which have seen the number of barracks occupied by the Permanent Defence Force reduced from 34 to 18 today. Since 1998 a total of ten barracks have been closed under the two barrack consolidation programmes. A total of €84.98 million has been realised from the disposal of seven barracks and while three remain the property of the Department of Defence, agreement in principle has been reached to dispose of two of these. The moneys received from the sales of such properties have returned to the defence Vote as appropriations-in-aid, and these increased levels of appropriations-in-aid have allowed the retention of funding levels for investment in equipment and infrastructure for the Defence Forces over recent years as well as saving substantial sums of taxpayers' money.

Some of the major programmes include the acquisition of light tactical armoured vehicles, MOWAG armoured personnel carriers, two EC135 helicopters, six AW139 helicopters and two new offshore patrol vessels. This approach is in line with the 2000 White Paper on Defence and a Government decision of 29 February 2000 which, inter alia, approved "The allocation of 100% of the revenue arising from the sale of property surplus to military requirements, for investment in equipment and infrastructure for the Defence Forces."

Notwithstanding the progress made to date, the dispersal of Defence Force personnel over an extended number of locations continues to be a major impediment to essential collective training and to releasing personnel for operational duties. It also imposes unnecessary increased overheads on the Defence Forces in terms of barrack management, administration, maintenance and security. The consolidation of the Defence Forces formations into a smaller number of locations is a key objective of the ongoing defence modernisation programme to maximise the effectiveness and efficiency of the Defence Forces.

As is the case with all Departments, my Department has been actively reviewing all areas of expenditure for which it is responsible to ensure the maximum benefit in the public interest from the use of resources. This is a key element in the context of the comprehensive review of expenditure in which the Government is engaged. My Department has submitted its report as part of that process. This report sets out in clear terms the options available to Government with regard to defence funding. The outcome of the comprehensive review of expenditure will determine the future resource envelope available for defence.

I wish to ensure that all decisions made and resources utilised are focused on maximising the capability of the Defence Forces and ensuring their continued operational excellence. I am also anxious to ensure, in so far as is possible, that the Government is not compelled by fiscal and budgetary constraints to effect any substantial reduction in the current number of personnel in the Defence Forces which stands at just over 9,500. It is crucial that our Defence Forces retain their existing operational capacity and capabilities and operate within the maximum financial efficiencies both in the interest of taxpayers and to facilitate our meeting our obligations to the EU and IMF to contain and reduce public expenditure. It is this which will inform decisions yet to be made by Government.