Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for Defence if he plans to make any of his Department's land available to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government for social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1406/05]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Government decided on 1 July 2003 that Magee Barracks, Kildare, and Gormanston Camp, County Meath, would be among the State lands released for inclusion in the Sustaining Progress affordable housing initiative. In addition, the Government agreed on 16 December 2003 to the release of a further series of State lands for inclusion in the affordable housing initiative including Department of Defence sites at St. Bricins Hospital, Dublin, and at the Camp Field, Collins Barracks, Cork.

The modalities for the transfer of these sites to the relevant local authorities are under active consideration and my Department is in ongoing communication with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in this regard.

Apart from the foregoing, there are no proposals at present to make further Department of Defence lands available to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government for housing.