Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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286. To ask the Minister for Defence the degree of utilisation, and his future plans, for St. Bricin’s military hospital and the associated lands within this important eight acre site in Dublin’s north inner city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41603/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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While commonly known as St Bricin’s Hospital, in practice, this is a military medical facility and only provides General Practitioner and limited out-patient services. There have been no lying-in facilities utilised for Defence Forces personnel in St. Bricin’s since December 2012.

The closure of St. Bricin’s Hospital, Dublin and other military establishments was announced as part of the Budget in October, 2008. The decision was linked to the decentralisation programme. As part of the implementation of the Government decision to relocate the Defence Forces HQ under decentralisation, it was proposed that services being provided by St. Bricin’s would transfer to the Curragh. That decision included a provision that St. Bricin’s would remain in operation as a military medical facility pending the provision of suitable alternative facilities. It was anticipated at the time that St. Bricin’s would be disposed of, taking account of market conditions, so as to maximise the return to the Defence Forces and generate funding for reinvestment in Defence Forces equipment and infrastructure in accordance with Government policy.

To date it has not proved possible to provide alternative facilities within available resources and the Defence Forces priorities in relation to infrastructure investment. As such, St. Bricin’s will continue as a military medical facility providing medical services for members of the Defence Forces for the foreseeable future.