Ned O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 371: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will confirm the acreage of a property (details supplied) in the ownership of his Department; the townlands this property occupies; the number of military personnel employed there; the number of civilian employees; the acreage which is under lease to local farmers; the area of this property which is the preferred area that his Department would agree to for the new proposed development; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the local community are welcoming the proposal. [43645/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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My Department administers an area of some 3,352 acres at the property referred to by the Deputy. The property is vested in the Minister for Finance and is situated in a number of townlands which includes Ballinrush, Ballinvoher, Gortnahown, Killally West, Caherdrinny, Graigue, Skeheen Upper, Glenatlucky, Whitebog, Toor, Killakane, Pollardstown, Ballybeg and Turbeagh. All of the lands in question are used for military training and exercises, including the firing of live ammunition. For land management purposes, 136 acres approximately are let to local farmers on an 11-month basis, a further 76 acres are let to Teagasc at Moorepark, for agricultural research purposes, while the remaining area (excluding the Camp and ancillary infrastructure) in excess of 3,000 acres approximately is grazed by sheep on a per capita basis.

There are ten civilian employees attached to the location in question along with one Land Steward and an Assistant Land Steward employed on a full time basis. During peak training periods, a further four civilians are employed on a contract basis.

It is not the practice for security reasons to give details regarding the numbers of military personnel serving at individual military locations.

The proposal referred to by the Deputy is currently under examination in my Department.