Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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251. To ask the Minister for Defence if in the context of Columb Barracks, Mullingar, County Westmeath, he will take steps to relocate the Reserve Defence Forces location and the Civil Defence headquarters to Columb Barracks, which has significant accommodation available to facilitate these organisations among others; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44251/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The former barracks in Mullingar is currently used by Westmeath GAA Board under a short term licence. The former barracks is also currently used by An Garda Síochána and the Customs Service for training purposes and it is intended that these arrangements will remain in place. A number of other organisations and individuals have also made enquiries and suggestions in the recent past as to the possible use of the barracks and these are being looked at in the context of an overall plan for the barracks under a long term lease with Westmeath GAA Board.

The provision of accommodation for the local Civil Defence Unit is a matter for the local authority in the first instance. Insofar as my Department is concerned there are no plans to re-locate the Unit to the barracks. The position in relation to the local Reserve Defence Force is being reviewed in tandem with the discussions on a lease arrangement with Westmeath GAA Board. I expect that these arrangements will be finalised over the coming weeks.