asked the Minister for Defence if representations have been made to him to transfer portion of the Seán Connolly barracks, Longford, and the lands thereto to the Office of Public Works so as to make them available as a site for an hospital in the County Longford, and if he is aware that the board of health is prepared to pay a reasonable price for these lands, and if he is further aware that with the proceeds of the sale a suitable hall could be built to accommodate the Volunteers of the district.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Transfer of Longford Barracks.
The representations referred to by the Deputy have been received and considered but, having regard to military requirements, it is not possible to accede to the request.
Is the Minister aware that the board of health, as I we indicated in the question, are prepared to pay a reasonable price for these lands and that the military requirements could be easily met by the building of a new hall for the money he would get for the sale of that portion of the barracks? The barracks are occupied only by Volunteers and I suggest a hall would be more suitable for their requirements. Therefore, the military requirements would be amply met by the building of a new hall and there would be considerable employment given both in respect to the building of an hospital and a hall, which would be utilised as a barracks.
We want the barracks for more than Volunteer purposes. I do not think there is any shortage of land around Longford town; there is plenty of it there and the Deputy knows quite well that local authorities, if they want land for any purposes, can never see any land except land in the possession of the military authorities. I want to put an end to that if I can.
Is the Minister aware that the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Local Government informed me yesterday week that there was no suitable site that had all the requirements necessary in or around the town of Longford and the the Minister for Defence happened to have a site that had all the necessary requirements? Would he not, in view of these circumstances, be more friendly to the Department of Local Government?