Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Question 191: To ask the Minister for Defence if he can confirm that the Mullingar Reserve Defence Forces have been advised that following the closure of Columb Barracks they will need to rent alternative accommodation and that their weapons will be required to be held between Athlone and the Curragh; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36542/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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At present the RDF use facilities in Columb Barracks Mullingar one night a week for training purposes. Prior to the closure of the barracks arrangements will be made to provide alternative accommodation in the town. On nights that the training involves the use of weapons it will be necessary for these to be brought from Custume Barracks Athlone. This type of arrangement exists with many RDF training locations throughout the country where the training location is outside of a permanently occupied barracks.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Question 192: To ask the Minister for Defence the way the proposed savings on closure of Columb Barracks, County Westmeath was costed; and if he will provide these savings in writing. [36543/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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As I have said previously annual savings in respect of utilities, security duty allowances and maintenance amount to approximately €1.3 million per annum in respect of the four closures. In relation to Columb Barracks Mullingar these savings amount to approximately €0.4 million based on the most recent figures available. In addition to the cost of utilities each barracks requires a security detail and additional further personnel are tied up on purely administrative duties connected to the management of the particular barracks. Because maintaining barrack security can require around the clock cover, a much larger pool of personnel is required. Therefore, several hundred additional man years will become available for operational duties. At a minimum, the value of this efficiency gain across the four locations will exceed €5 million per year.

The consolidation of the Defence Forces formations into a smaller number of locations is a key objective in the ongoing defence modernisation programme and has been recommended in many reports over the past number of years. This was a key consideration of Government in addressing this issue as releasing personnel from security and support functions enables the operational capacity of the Defence Forces to be maintained notwithstanding the fall in strength.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Question 193: To ask the Minister for Defence the way in which the relocated soldiers from Columb Barracks are to be accommodated in Custume Barracks, Athlone, County Westmeath; if Custume Barracks has the necessary accommodation space currently or will additional accommodation space be required. [36544/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Over the coming weeks officials from the Department and Defence Forces engineers will be visiting Custume Barracks Athlone to finalise a detailed long-term plan to provide the required accommodation to facilitate those transferring from Cavan and Mullingar. This plan is likely to follow the precedent that was successfully used during the 2009 barrack closure programme. At that time a range of temporary facilities were provided while the arrangements for the construction, over the following 2-3 years, of more permanent facilities were put in place.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Question 194: To ask the Minister for Defence if a revised valuation has been carried out on Connolly Barracks, Longford; if so, if he will advise of the new valuation; and if he has had any further consultation with the local authorities in Longford. [36545/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Since becoming Minister I have been actively engaged in seeking a means of dealing with Connolly Barracks, Longford. On 29 September I met with a delegation from Longford to discuss possible future uses of the former barracks. Arising from that meeting I asked my Department to have the site revalued. As a consequence of that revaluation and discussions between my Department and the local council I am optimistic that a satisfactory agreement will be made with regard to the future of the barracks.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Question 195: To ask the Minister for Defence when he anticipates holding a further consultative meeting with the Columb Barracks action group. [36546/11]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Question 196: To ask the Minister for Defence if he is in any consultation with any interested party regarding an alternative use for Columb Barracks, County Westmeath. [36547/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 195 and 196 together.

Since the announcement of the Government decision on barrack closures the Department has written to each Government Department and various agencies and local authorities seeking expressions of interest in acquiring any of the properties to benefit the local community as a whole but with particular emphasis on job creation measures. The Department will, in the coming weeks, also be contacting the local authorities and county development boards to establish the full extent of any particular planning conditions that might apply and the nature of developments that will be facilitated on these sites.

I have asked to be kept fully appraised of progress with these consultations and will if necessary become directly involved myself. If any local group thought it useful to meet with me or my officials regarding the future use to which the barracks might be put I will be pleased to make the necessary arrangements.