Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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320. To ask the Minister for Defence if he will ensure the provision of a lease to an organisation (details supplied) in County Westmeath in respect of the former Army barracks in Mullingar; if he will expedite this issue in order that local community organisations do not lose Government funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14869/15]

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/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. My Department has only been made aware in the last few days of the proposal to develop the community facility concerned within the Barracks and the need for a five year lease to be in place to enable the drawdown of Government funding. In order to progress the matter officials from my Department have arranged a meeting for early next week with the local interests concerned to discuss the type of development being proposed and the lease requirements.