Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 191: To ask the Minister for Defence if there is a barrack rationalisation group in existence; if so, the terms of reference this group is operating under; if, in the context thereof, he will confirm the only artillery barracks here which is the home of the 4th Field Artillery Regiment and based at Columb Barracks, Mullingar, County Westmeath has not being considered by the said rationalisation group; if he will further confirm that there is no threat to the long-term future of Collumb Barracks, Mullingar, as an important military establishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26430/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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A Working Group, comprising civil and military representatives, was established in July 2004 to review the Department's existing property portfolio, taking account of White Paper implementation, the reorganisation of the Reserve Defence Force and current military requirements, and to make recommendations accordingly.

All properties within my Department's property portfolio were considered by this group. The Working Group identified a number of properties, mainly former training areas and RDF facilities, as being surplus to requirement. My Department is in the process of disposing of these properties. However, the Working Group made no recommendation concerning Columb Barracks, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.

While there is no working group in existence, the Property portfolio managed by my Department is kept under constant review and any additional properties identified as surplus to military requirements will be disposed of and the funding invested to meet the equipment and infrastructure needs of the Defence Forces.