asked the Minister for Defence if he will make a statement on the present position relating to Dunree Army Fort, Buncrana, County Donegal; and if there are proposals to sell the property.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Disposal of County Donegal Military Post.
15.
(Limerick West): It has been decided to vacate Fort Dunree and dispose of the property as soon as possible. This decision does not include the military museum at Dunree which is segregated from the remainder of the fort.
Do I take it from the reply the Minister gave that it has been decided to evacuate Fort Dunree and put the property up for sale?
(Limerick West): Yes, it has been recommended to me by the military authorities that Fort Dunree should be vacated and disposed of.
He is at it again.
Is the Minister aware that Fort Dunree is of great strategic importance as a military post in north Donegal and if it now is evacuated and no longer serves as a military post we will have no area cover for a region of upwards of 80 to 100 miles? Does he consider the fact that Fort Dunree has served as a training camp for the FCA for many years? What is to happen now in relation to the camps for the FCA in County Donegal and where is it intended they will do their basic training?
The Minister is being nice to the back benches now.
(Limerick West): Not at all. We do not operate the same as the people opposite at all.
He did not consult with his colleague.
(Limerick West): The military authorities have recommended that it be vacated.
They are in control all right.
(Limerick West): There are three other military posts in Donegal namely, Finner Camp, Rockhill House and Lifford military post in addition to four other locations being maintained by the Army-Garda checkpoints in Donegal. The Deputy said the FCA have used it for summer camps. They did indeed in 1988 when they had 303. In 1987 they had 539 and in 1986 they had 959, so the number has been decreasing. Fort Dunree has limited value as a training centre and its closure will result in more efficient use of available resources, mainly due to savings in maintenance costs and transport costs and more effective use of manpower. Following the proposed closure of Dunree, increased use will be made of Finner Camp for FCA summer camps and a small number of military personnel at present located in Fort Dunree will be transferred to other locations in due course.
In view of the fact that the Minister has recommended the closing of Fort Dunree, I ask him to go back to the military personnel and ask them to have a rethink on this because it is my opinion there is an attitude within the military forces that Fort Dunree is not very acceptable to many of the military personnel due to its location. In view of this I ask that the situation be reviewed and that the Minister ensure that the military personnel are fully conscious of what the closure of Fort Dunree will mean in relation to military operations in future.
(Limerick West): In view of the Deputy's request I will have a review made by the military authorities.
(Interruptions.)
(Limerick West): I will ask them to have the matter re-examined. As I said, no date has yet been fixed for the closure of Fort Dunree. At the request of the Deputy I will have the matter reviewed.
I have a brief supplementary to assist Deputy Conaghan in his political guerrilla tactics behind the Minister. Will the Minister indicate——
(Interruptions.)
——when the Army authorities communicated with him? Will he advise the House the date when the Army authorities communicated to him their wish to close down Dunree Army Fort? Will he indicate to the House whether it is ultimately the Army authorities' responsibility to make that decision or is it his decision? First, what date did he receive the communication?
(Limerick West): The military authorities are constantly apprising me of situations. Secondly, the decision will be made by me as Minister.
When did they communicate with the Minister first? He is evading another question.