Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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On 1 July 2003 the Government decided that Magee Barracks would be among the State lands released to Kildare County Council for inclusion in the Sustaining Progress Affordable Housing Initiative. On foot of this Government decision, Kildare County Council prepared a local area plan for the site which encompassed a range of uses including community use. Following discussions at that time between the Department, Kildare County Council and the then Department of Environment, Heritage & Local Government, it was agreed that the entire site would be transferred to Kildare County Council in accordance with the terms of the Housing Initiative. However, in 2009 the local authority contacted the Department to state that it no longer wished to take possession of the property.

In addition, the Local Development Plan for Kildare Town 2012-2018 has made provision for substantial community developments on the barracks site. Consequently, any buyer will be obliged to comply with these provisions. This will ensure that the local community will benefit directly from the sale.

It is my view that the obligation to community development was met by the offer to transfer the full site to Kildare County Council and the subsequent Local Development Plan which makes provision for community developments on the site.

Also, eight acres on the Barrack site is currently being developed for local schools. Officials from my Department recently met with the CEO from Kildare County Council. Discussions included the Department’s intention to dispose of the remaining c. 54 acres of the site by public auction later this year. In the interim, the Department remains open to proposals from the Council, subject to achieving a satisfactory return for the property.