Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

377. To ask the Minister for Defence the current use of all military installations decommissioned or otherwise not in use throughout the country since 1998; if all have been disposed of or otherwise used for alternative purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1554/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department has been engaged on an ongoing programme of barrack consolidation since 1998. This programme has brought to fourteen the number of barracks closed during that time. To date the sale has been completed on nine of these barracks - Clancy (Dublin), Castleblaney, Ballincollig, Fermoy, Naas, Monaghan, Cavan, Rockhill(Letterkenny), and a large portion of Longford. In relation to the remaining barracks, agreement has been reached for the sale of Lifford to Donegal County Council, Castlebar to Mayo County Council and Clonmel to Tipperary County Council. It is expected that these sales will be fully completed shortly.

The remaining part of Longford Barracks has been reserved for sale to the Office of Public Works for the local Garda Síochána. Magee Barracks in Kildare and Columb Barracks in Mullingar remain the property of the Department of Defence. Approximately eight acres of Magee Barracks has been sold to the Department of Education to facilitate the construction of a new school and it is hoped to auction the remaining portion of the barracks in mid 2015.

Columb Barracks in Mullingar is currently used by an Garda Síochána and the Customs Service for training purposes and a large part of the barracks has been licensed to Westmeath GAA Board for use as a potential centre of excellence. As part of the licence agreement, the Board pays a sum to my Department for use of the facility. Discussions are at an advanced stage with the Board in relation to the possible long term lease of the facility. Discussions are also ongoing with a number of other interested parties regarding future use of Mullingar.

In addition to the main barracks outlined above a number of other properties have also been identified as surplus to military requirements over recent years. These include, married quarters, Reserve Defence Force (RDF) premises and training lands. A large number of these have already been disposed of whilst others are in the process of being prepared for disposal.

In the case of married quarters which are outside of military installations, the majority were sold to the occupiers/members of the Defence Forces.

Over 20 Reserve Defence Force premises have been sold since 1998. Three were sold to local authorities, and one to a State agency with the remaining sold to private individuals.

A small number of these properties are also being used under licence by various organisations including sporting clubs and in some cases by private individuals for grazing purposes until arrangements are finalised for their disposal. In all cases appropriate rents are being paid to my Department by the licencees.