Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 330: To ask the Minister for Defence the status of Clonmel Barracks, County Tipperary; if Clonmel Barracks is scheduled for closure or if its closure is under active consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18540/09]

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 334: To ask the Minister for Defence his plans for the upkeep and maintenance of Clonmel Barracks, County Tipperary; the number of Defence Forces staff employed there; the number of his Department staff employed there after the decentralisation process re-located people to that barracks; the amount spent on renovating and maintaining the barracks annually since 2000 to date in 2009; if he will clarify that it will be retained as an Army barracks for the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18795/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 330 and 334 together.

The closure of barracks and 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 development and increased capability of the modern Defence Forces, when taken together with the improved security situation along the border removed the rationale for having seven barracks/posts along the border and provided the opportunity for consolidation of units in a smaller number of locations.

In framing the 2009 Budget, the Government, therefore, decided to reduce the number of army barracks to bring it more into line with operational requirements of the Defence Forces and to achieve economies of scale. Four border barracks at Monaghan, Longford, Lifford and Rockhill were closed under this consolidation plan.

The Government has made no decision in relation to any other barracks nor, contrary to the media reports last week, are further closures under active consideration by the Minister or the Government at this time. While the staff in my Department and the Defence Forces continually review Defence Forces requirements in relation to barracks, infrastructure and other military installations it is important that the most recent changes be given the opportunity to bed down.

Approx 240 military personnel permanently occupy this post consisting of B Coy and Support Coy of the 12 INF BN and the Reserve and Military Police directorates. No staff of the Department are based in Clonmel.

In the period 2000 to 2008 an average of €390,000 per annum has been expended on maintenance and refurbishment works in Clonmel Barracks.