Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 505: To ask the Minister for Defence the name and location of every vacant building under his Department's ownership or control; the security arrangements in place in respect of each property; the cost of such security arrangements in respect of each property in the period 1 October 2005 to 30 September 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36299/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Government, in July, 1998, approved a programme of evacuation and sale of six barracks considered surplus to military requirements. The barracks in question were located at Fermoy, Castleblayney, Naas, Clancy Barracks, Dublin, Ballincollig, and Kildare. The sale of Fermoy, Castleblayney, Naas and Clancy Barracks Dublin have been completed, together with most of Murphy Barracks, Ballincollig. The disposal of the remaining lands at Ballincollig is being progressed at present.

Subsequent to its closure, the Government decided on 1 July 2003, that Magee Barracks, Kildare, would be among the State lands released for inclusion in the Sustaining Progress Affordable Housing Initiative. Until recently, approximately 15 acres at the former military barracks were being used by the Reception and Integration Agency of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to accommodate asylum seekers and site security was arranged by that Agency. The Agency has vacated the site which has recently been handed back to my Department. Costs incurred by my Department in the provision of private security at the former barracks since its vacation by the Agency amounted to €9,922 up to 30 September, 2006. A further site at this location, comprising approximately one acre, is being used by Kildare County Council as a temporary halting site. Security at this site is arranged by Kildare County Council.

The Department's property portfolio consists of almost 100 sites including 27 permanently occupied military barracks, together with lands comprising circa 21,000 acres. For reasons of security it is not proposed to name and identify the location of every vacant or unoccupied building under my Department's ownership or to indicate any security arrangements pertaining.