Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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83. To ask the Minister for Defence further to his meeting with a local authority delegation on 5 November 2015 on the matter of Custume Barracks in Athlone in County Westmeath, and given his commitment to maintain the current strength of 1,110 personnel in Custume Barracks, if there is a need to amend any ministerial order to ensure that this commitment is honoured; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41211/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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There has been a lot of scaremongering concerning the future of Custume Barracks over the last few years, and I was very happy to meet local representatives from the Athlone area recently to put to rest the unfounded rumours in this regard. As I stated at that meeting, I am committed to the future of Custume Barracks as an important, operational military Barracks. There are no plans to change this.

The Emergency Aeronautical Service was put on a permanent footing earlier this year. There are also plans for a major refurbishment of the Barracks’ Dining Hall in 2017.

At the time of the re-organisation there was some speculation that the number of PDF personnel serving in Custume Barracks would be reduced by figures that varied from 400 to 600 personnel. This was based on an incorrect assumption that there were approximately 1,400 personnel permanently based in Custume Barracks at that time. The figure of 1,400 personnel appears to be based on the number of personnel that would have been permanently posted to Custume Barracks if the PDF strength was at 11,500 personnel. This PDF strength level has not been seen since the 1990’s.

I am advised that the establishment strength for units based in Custume Barracks is 995. The military authorities have advised that the strength of personnel in Custume Barracks, Athlone as at 31st October, 2015 was 919. Recruitment is ongoing.