Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 30 Mar 1995

Vol. 451 No. 4

Written Answers. - Collins Barracks, Dublin.

Peadar Clohessy

Question:

20 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for Defence when it is expected that Collins Barracks, Dublin, will be fully vacated by the Defence Forces; the total costs involved in the Defence Forces vacating the barracks, including the costs which have been incurred or will be incurred in works in other barracks which have been necessitated by the move from Collins Barracks; whether additional provision has been made or will be made for this expenditure in the Defence Forces' budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6652/95]

Minister for Defence (Mr. Coveney)

The decision to discontinue the use of Collins Barracks, Dublin, as an occupied military post has necessitated the redeployment of a substantial number of personnel to McKee Barracks and Cathal Brugha Barracks.

The infrastructure facilities available at the latter locations were not adequate to absorb the number of personnel involved and it was necessary to embark on a programme of refurbishment of existing buildings which were not in a good state of repair and the construction of new buildings.

A decision to adapt Collins Barracks for museum purposes gave rise to a request by the Office of Public Works early in 1994 for the urgent evacuation of a substantial amount of accommodation at the barracks. Segregation of the area required and the relocation of numbers of military personnel both within Collins Barracks and to Cathal Brugha Barracks was achieved on target in May 1994.

A sum of approximately £2.25 million has been expended on the provision of alternative billet and office accommodation; in addition, over recent years, a number of other projects, including a new central armoury, new dining complex, supply and transport workshops and a Barrack Foreman of Works complex — the requirement for which was not solely dependent on the evacuation of Collins Barracks — have been provided at a cost of £6.5 million. All of these moneys were provided for under subhead V — Building and Engineering Works, in the Defence Estimate.

The target date for the evacuation of Collins Barracks is December 1996. Further works will be required to complete the deployment programme and the necessary expenditure will be provided for in the 1996 and 1997 Defence Estimates.