Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 49: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of people residing at Cathal Brugha barracks, Rathmines; his plans to sell off sections of the land there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38118/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Accommodation in Cathal Brugha Barracks includes officers married quarters, single living in and low density accommodation for officers and other ranks personnel and billet accommodation used for transit and short term stays for courses etc. There is in the region of 350 personnel accommodated at present. In addition, there are twelve other ranks married quarters located outside Cathal Brugha Barracks, eleven of which are presently occupied. Since 1988 it has been the policy of my Department to sell off married quarters located outside of barracks. In 1997 these married quarters were offered for sale to the occupants. There are a number of layout and structural design issues associated with them, especially common shared elements viz., waterpipes, services, access to attics, common green areas, etc. All twelve quarters must be sold in view of the shared services design. At that time it was made known that the quarters would only be sold if all of the occupants agreed to purchase. The Chief State Solicitor's Office advised that the Department would not be under any legal obligation to accept any offers from any of the other occupants in the event of one or more of the occupants not proceeding to purchase. My Department is continuing to explore possible solutions.

As you are aware, the Government, on 15th July 1998, approved a programme of evacuation and sale of six barracks considered surplus to military requirements. The barracks in question were located at Ballincollig, Fermoy, Castleblayney, Naas, Kildare and Islandbridge, Dublin. The Government subsequently 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. There are no plans to sell Cathal Brugha Barracks.