Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Defence the number of vacant residential units in the ownership of his Department on the Curragh Camp, County Kildare, or in its environs; if he will provide a description of the properties concerned; the expenditure, if any, that was incurred over the past five years in the maintenance, repair or renovation of each individual property; if he has a plan for the use of these residential units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57705/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There are 40 residential properties (former married quarters) vacant in the Curragh Camp environs in various states of repair but the majority of which are uninhabitable. 39 of these properties are within the confines of the Camp and the remaining property is in Orchard Park.

In February 1997 the then Minister for Defence set out policy on married quarters on the basis that they were largely an anachronism and that they should be discontinued in a managed and orderly way. In the circumstances the properties within the confines of the Camp will not be re-allocated and will remain vacant pending a decision on conversion to other military use or demolition. The property in Orchard Park, which is outside the confines of the Camp, will, as have the majority of properties there, be sold in due course.

It is not possible to indicate how much has been spent on repair and maintenance on each individual property over the last five years, however because of the Department’s policy of non allocation the amount is minimal and relates mainly to securing the vacant properties.