The Government on 15 July 1998 approved a programme of evacuation and sale of six barracks which are considered surplus to military requirements. This decision is part of the relocation, refurbishment and re-equipment of the Defence Forces, as recommended in the context of the Price Waterhouse report regarding the rationalisation of military institutions generally. The Government remains fully committed to this important programme.
It is expected that up to £50 million will be raised from the sale of these barracks. Sixty per cent of the proceeds will be invested in the redevelopment of other military installations and new equipment. The balance will be used to meet the cost of compensation claims and for investment in the local communities where closures take place.
The proposed sales will provide prime sites to meet housing, commercial and industrial development needs in the areas concerned. In addition, 15 per cent of the proceeds are to be devoted to community projects in the areas involved. This is a consultative process involving many Depart ments, agencies, councils and organisations, including my Department. While preliminary discussions have taken place with local community groups, various details and arrangements still require to be sorted out.
The Government decision of 15 July 1998 identified Ballincollig as one of the properties for disposal and it will be offered for sale by open tender in the near future. The property comprises 140 acres approximately held under a 999 year lease which commenced in 1805 and, therefore, it still has many years to run. Cork County Council's most recent county development plan was published in 1996. At that time, the barracks was still in military use. Draft variations to the 1996 plan published by the council in January of this year propose permitting the redevelopment of the barracks property for a variety of uses, including commercial, residential, employment, social, community and other appropriate development forms. The variations to the 1996 plan require that an integrated area action plan be drawn up for the property and be adopted by the county council in advance of it considering any applications for planning permission to the property.
In relation to the appointment of independent planning consultants, I propose to advertise next week for the invitation of tenders for the preparation of an integrated area action plan for the development of these lands at Ballincollig. The tenders will be due back to my Department by early March. It is proposed to appoint consultants following evaluation of the tenders. The consultants will be required to submit their report within three months of their appointment. In addition to the maximisation of the potential of the property, the principal objectives of the project will be to define the role that the site should play in the future development of the town of Ballincollig, to provide an urban design for the resulting expansion of the town centre, to establish priorities in relation to the infrastructural development, taking cognisance of community needs, and to provide guidance in relation to development issues.
The consultants appointed will be required to liaise with my Department, local community groups, the local authority – Cork County Council – and all other interested parties with regard to the formulation of an area action plan. The recommendations of the independent planning consultants will greatly assist my Department in progressing the sale of the property. In accordance with normal Government practice this process will be by way of public tender.
I thank the Deputies for raising this matter on the Adjournment and giving me an opportunity to clarify the present position. There was no rush in closing the barracks; it was on the agenda for about 20 years. Most people who are realistic about the needs of the Defence Forces knew that this should happen, and it should have happened long before now. We are in the process of moving towards a sale which will involve the consultative process and enhance the town of Ballincollig. The Deputies said the town has developed in a lop- sided way and this will provide an opportunity to create balance and development so the community can benefit from the decision we have taken.
I am extremely anxious that this will proceed quickly, but I could not move on anything until it I had a clear site and only part of it has been completed. We also have to relocate the explosives. I assure the Deputies I am concerned to ensure we get the best possible deal for the State and the best prospect of enhancement for the town of Ballincollig arising from this decision. In spite of some of the political statements that have been made, I appreciate there is reasonable consensus about what we are trying to do.
