Vol. 408 No. 5
13 Mr. G. O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Defence when building on the new gym hall at Collins Barracks in Cork will commence; if finance has been allocated for this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
23 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline the programme of refurbishment work carried out at Southern Command HQ, Collins Barracks, Cork; and the future works which are proposed for these premises.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 23 together. In addition to regular maintenance works, major renovations and improvements, including re-roofing of a number of premises and improvement of the electrical supply, were undertaken in the past five years at Collins Barracks, Cork at a cost of £350,000.
Proposals for future works at the barracks include the construction of a new gymnasium, provision of a transport workshop and the modernisation of living and other accommodation.
Planning and design work has commenced in relation to some of these projects and tenders will be invited from competent contractors as financial resources allow.
Would the Minister not agree that with approximately 1,000 personnel stationed in Collins Barracks, Cork the provision of a gymnasium is a facility that is urgently needed? At present, as the Minister is aware, people have to travel across the city to other barracks and to other areas for physical training. Has money been allocated in the budget for the provision of a new gymnasium at Collins Barracks?
The capital moneys provided for this type of work this year is £5 million. The total cost of providing the gymnasium is estimated to be £750,000. I appreciate there is a necessity for this type of facility in places such as Collins Barracks. I propose to visit that premises fairly soon to see the situation at first hand. However, I cannot hold out any hope that the work will be undertaken very soon having regard to limited resources and to the many pressing demands that have to be met.
Having had the opportunity of visiting those barracks in the past year, may I ask the Minister how he proposes to defend a situation in which the Southern Command headquarters has been without a gymnasium for ten years? Would the Minister not agree that it is one of the essential requisites of a proper training camp that it would have a proper facility? Can he indicate also if there are proposals to continue the reroofing programme or to do some work on window replacement. Finally, can he say in relation to Collins Barracks whether it is intended to improve the long term living accommodation for unmarried soldiers? That accommodation is appalling.
By and large what I have here is a list of important works that need to be done over a period to improve conditions generally at these barracks across the board.
The inadequate conditions are evident when one enters the place.
The difficulty is that we have a £5 million allocation and there is a number of pressing issues to be dealt with. Already some contracts have been entered into which have to be completed. I can assure the Deputy that as far as I am concerned I will examine the situation very carefully. When I visit the barracks shortly I shall see what needs to be dealt with urgently. The matter of the gymnasium is one that I consider should get some priority.
May I ask the Minister if he would consider submitting the plan for the gymnasium to a number of contractors for the purpose of getting tenders? Is he of the view that the proposed facilities could be provided for less than the amount of the estimate the Department have made?
The estimate we have for the particular building at this stage is £750,000. I am not certain that it would be wise or advisable to put the project out to tender unless we had some reasonable prospect of having the work done this year. I would prefer to have the matter fully examined to see if there is anything we can do there as a matter of urgency. It would be wasting time and fooling people to put something out to tender if we were not prepared to go ahead with the work.
Question No. 14.
May I ask one final question?
It has to be very brief.
I would like to clarify the position. Is the £5 million capital the total for the Defence Forces?
It was reduced from £7.5 million to £5 million.
Yes.
Thank you.
The Minister will have to do a better job in Cabinet.
Question No. 14.
