asked the Minister for Defence if any steps are being taken to rectify the defective and inadequate electric power supply to Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin.
4.
The necessary works are in progress to provide an improved electricity supply to Cathal Brugha Barracks. It is hoped to have them completed at an early date.
This is the reply that the personnel in Cathal Brugha Barracks have got over a number of years. The fact that a transformer house has been built some years ago and that there is a cable there is no indication that the matter is being rectified. Can the Minister say if the security factor is affected by the defective electrical supply to this important military establishment? Does it affect the lighting and the signal equipment, sound equipment, pumping units, televisions or flood lighting or the sensitive alarm systems to the ordnance stores, if they are there at all? Television sets are affected. In some sections people have to work by candlelight. Is the Minister aware of that?
I have absolute confidence in both the officers and men in Cathal Brugha Barracks so far as security is concerned. I can assure the Deputy that there is no cause for anxiety about security. The necessary works in connection with the take-over of the occupants of married quarters in the barracks as direct consumers of the Electricity Supply Board are being carried out by the board and are expected to be completed by the end of this year. As regards the supply to the barracks proper, apart from the married quarters, a new sub-station has been erected inside the main gate by the Corps of Engineers. The Electricity Supply Board are arranging to equip this building with a new transformer and switchgear and it is hoped these works will be completed by February, 1976.
The Minister says television will be all right in a short time. Televisions are not important. It is security that is important. Is the Minister aware that when the Department of Posts and Telegraphs moved into a section of the barracks the staff were immediately supplied with more efficient lighting than the Defence Forces ever had. Would the Minister now assure us that a temporary supply will be laid on to ensure the military have the necessary power to meet their requirements in the event of a general alarm when the whole system would be switched on? Security is the important factor, not television.
Brief supplementaries, please.
The magazine and the sensitive alarm systems could not be operated with the readings taken by the ESB. Will the Minister ensure a temporary supply in the meantime as an added security measure?
The Deputy is fully aware that it is much easier to give a small area of the barracks where the Department of Posts and Telegraphs are working a separate supply. This is a very large barracks and it needs a new sub-station and the best thing was to put the married quarters on to outside electricity supply. That is being done and the work is being pressed forward as quickly as possible. I am entirely confident that the military in charge of the barracks are fully capable of looking after the security aspect and there is no question of unauthorised people entering the barracks.
Further arising——
Question No. 5. I have given Deputy Dowling a great deal of latitude.
It is just a short question.
It must be a very brief supplementary.
The security of the barracks is important.
The Deputy is making a statement.
Will the Minister arrange for a temporary supply to the Department of Defence——
The Deputy has already asked that question.
——just as a temporary supply was made available to the Department of Posts and Telegraphs? It seems priority is given to Posts and Telegraphs.
The Chair has asked me to answer Question No. 5.
Will the Minister undertake to make a temporary supply available pending the implementation of full power?
I have absolute confidence in the people who are looking after security there and I will leave the matter in their hands.
Just one supplementary. Can we be assured that there is no skimping in this barracks in the forlorn hope that a new barracks will be built which may lead to the closing of this barracks?
There is no skimping of expense on Cathal Brugha Barracks.