Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 505: To ask the Minister for Defence his plans for redevelopment of the St. Bricin's Hospital site Dublin 7. [23565/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I have previously indicated my willingness to make the facilities at St. Bricin's Military Hospital available to the public health service, in the event that the public health service would wish to secure access to these facilities.

Representatives from the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Department of Health and Children visited St. Bricin's Hospital in 2005 to inspect the facilities. I inspected the hospital facility myself in late April 2005. The Department of Health and Children and the Health Service Executive have given some very detailed consideration to the possible utilisation of the facilities at St. Bricin's for public health purposes. Following this detailed consideration, their view was that St. Bricin's was not suitable for use as an acute or sub-acute facility.

Specialist engineering/architectural surveys carried at St. Bricin's in 2001 indicated that total capital expenditure in the region of at least €20 million (2001 prices) would be required to bring the entire St. Bricin's Hospital facility up to the standard of acute health board and public voluntary hospitals. While some upgrading work has taken place at St. Bricin's since 2001, the building overall, however, remains essentially un-modernised.

The actual expenditure required for full upgrading and modernisation would of course depend on the nature of the intended use of the facility. Any such expenditure would be a matter for the HSE and the Department of Health and Children.

Any future proposals for possible public health care use of the St. Bricin's facilities will be considered positively by me. My Department remains available to do everything possible to co-operate with the Department of Health and Children and the Health Service Executive in that regard should such a consideration arise in the future.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Government agreed on 16 December, 2003 to the release of circa 2.5 acres at St. Bricin's Military Hospital for inclusion in the Sustaining Progress affordable Housing Initiative. The legal formalities in relation to the transfer of the site at St. Bricin's Military Hospital to Dublin City Council are nearing completion.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 506: To ask the Minister for Defence the reason no FCA or defence training camps are being held in the military barracks, Castlebar as heretofore; his proposals for the development of the barracks there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23689/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Castlebar Military Barracks is primarily a Reserve Defence Force Facility and provides training facilities, office accommodation and storage facilities for Permanent Defence Force Cadre and Unit personnel of Units stationed in the Barracks. I have no plans to change this position.

The accommodation currently available in Castlebar Military Barracks is not of the standard required for the conduct of training camps. There are currently no proposals for the development of these barracks.