Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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140. To ask the Minister for Defence if he will confirm reports that the community of Kildare will now not receive ten acres of land from the site of the Magee Barracks; that there was a long standing agreement with Kildare County Council and the community of Kildare that his Department would provide ten acres of the site to the Community of Kildare, or the value thereof, when the site went out for sale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26526/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In July 1998, the Government approved a programme of evacuation and sale of six army barracks considered surplus to military requirements. Magee Barracks was one of the barracks identified for closure and disposal. On 1st July 2003 the Government decided the former Magee Barracks in Kildare Town 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 between the Department, Kildare County Council and the then Department of Environment, Heritage & Local Government, and in accordance with the terms of the Housing Initiative, it was agreed that the entire site would be transferred to Kildare County Council. A final Contract for transfer was issued to Kildare County Council in January 2009. However, the Council advised the Department that it no longer wished to take possession of the property.

In September 2011, the Department, in response to a request from the Council seeking submissions for the proposed Local Area Plan for Kildare Town, advised the Council of the intention to sell the site. The Department also advised the Council that it recognised the site provides a unique opportunity for the development of Kildare Town and remains prepared to facilitate this subject to achieving a satisfactory return for the property in order to provide revenue for reinvestment in the Defence Forces. The Kildare Town Local Development Plan 2012-2018 has made provision for substantial community developments on the barracks site which undoubtedly will be reflected in the value of the site to a developer.

It is now proposed to dispose of the remaining c.54 acres of the Barracks by public auction later this year. 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. In the interim, the Department remains open to proposals from the Council, subject to achieving a satisfactory return for the property.