asked the Minister for Defence the present position regarding the proposed sale of property by the Army; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Army Property Sale.
15.
(Limerick West): Arrangements are in hand for the disposal of the properties referred to in my reply to Question No. 15 on 29 October 1987.
Is it proposed to give to military personnel resigning from the Department of Defence an opportunity to acquire their dwellings in the same way as local authority tenants have been given the opportunity to purchase their homes? Will the Minister indicate whether it is proposed to sell off any large tracts of military ground in any location or military barracks?
(Limerick West): The question of houses is under consideration at the moment, and I hope to be in a position to make an announcement on that in the near future.
Could the Minister inform the House of where it is proposed to offer military properties for sale?
(Limerick West): There is Griffith barracks, Fort Shannon in Tarbert, County Kerry, the former vocational school at Manorhamilton in County Leitrim, Fort Camden, six acres at Assumption Road, Cork, the former FCA premises at Ballinalacken in County Clare, the Fort Duncannon and Waterford barracks. The following properties were disposed of in the last few years: 14 acres at Knocklisheen Camp in County Clare, former officers married quarters at Nos. 3 and 4 Glenavon Terrace, Athlone, 28 acres of the Curragh lands sold to Kildare County Council; agreement has been reached for the sale of a site at Heywood Road, Clonmel, to the trustees of Clonmel Rugby Football Club, and agreement has been reached for the sale of 5.6 acres of land at Knocklisheen, County Clare, to Limerick GAA Club.
I assume that much of that property is on the market for a while.
(Limerick West): No, it is not.
It might be quite difficult to sell some of the properties in the present climate and the reward to the Exchequer might not be very great.
(Limerick West): On the contrary, I have had representations from several persons for individual properties, so there is a keen demand for these properties and it is being sorted out.
We will wait and see.
(Limerick West): Yes, why not? The climate is improving immensely since 10 March, 1987.