Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 216: To ask the Minister for Defence the position regarding the rationalisation of military centres in County Donegal, with particular reference to Lifford Army barracks and Rockhill Army barracks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3679/09]

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 217: To ask the Minister for Defence the works, in the nature of refurbishments or extensions, that have been or will be carried out at Finner Army Camp, County Donegal to accommodate persons who are being transferred from Lifford and Rockhill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3680/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 216 and 217 together.

The consolidation of the Defence Forces formations into a smaller number of locations is a key objective of the White Paper on Defence. The dispersal of personnel over an extended number of locations is a major impediment to essential collective training. It also imposes increased and unnecessary overheads on the Defence Forces in terms of barrack management, administration, maintenance and security. The consolidation process is designed to facilitate higher training standards, while also freeing up under-utilised resources and personnel for operational duties.

The withdrawal of the British Army deployments coupled with reduced paramilitary activity following the Good Friday Agreement has removed the rationale for having seven barracks/posts along the border. These have now been consolidated into three posts in Dundalk, Cavan and Finner. Approximately 240 personnel from Lifford and Rockhill have now transferred to Finner Camp. Lifford and Rockhill were formally handed over to departmental officials by the military authorities on the 28th and 29th of January respectively. The facilities are now closed and secured and all equipment has also been relocated to Finner.

The military authorities had conducted a detailed review of the requirements to enable the closure of Lifford and Rockhill Posts. The Military Authorities have advised that arrangements have been made to ensure that there are adequate facilities to accommodate staff from Lifford and Rockhill. The immediate works required to facilitate the transfer of personnel were the refurbishment/redecoration of a number of modern buildings together with the provision of some temporary locker facilities. In addition to these immediate requirements, some medium term capital works will be required in the future to provide more permanent arrangements for the transferring personnel. These are being advanced within the Department's Capital Programme.

My Department is engaged in an on-going capital programme designed to modernize and enhance the training, operational and accommodation facilities available to the Defence Forces both Permanent and Reserve. The programme focuses mainly on infrastructural projects comprising the construction of new buildings and the refurbishment of existing buildings. The provision of training facilities and equipment are reviewed as part of this programme.

The current plan was put together in close consultation and cooperation with the Defence Forces General Staff. It provides an overall package that will serve the needs of the Defence Forces into the future. The closures will also advance the achievement of the vision of the Defence Forces set out in the White Paper. I would like to congratulate military management, departmental officials and the Defence Forces personnel in each of the barracks being closed on the professional manner in which they dealt with this issue and brought it to a very successful conclusion in a very tight timeframe.