I propose to Questions Nos. 9 and 102 together.
The Government, on 15 July 1998, approved a programme of evacuation and sale of six barracks which are considered surplus to military requirements. The barracks in question are located at Fermoy, Ballincollig, Naas, Kildare, Castleblayney and Clancy Barracks, Dublin. With the exception of Clancy Barracks which will be vacated by 1 July 2000, the other five barracks have been evacuated.
The decision to close barracks was 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 installations generally. The purpose of the decision was to remove from the Defence Forces the burden imposed by manning and maintaining unnecessary installations and to effect savings in relation to security and maintenance costs at the locations concerned.
It was also designed to release troops for operational duties which would have a positive impact on the security duty capacity of the Defence Forces and free up resources for necessary re-equipment. Price Waterhouse consultants commented that "security military tasks" were the highest consumer of military manpower at home. Essentially, this activity is concerned with the military guarding or otherwise securing its facilities. Troops engaged in this activity are not available for operational tasks. The high level of manpower involved in this area is partly a function of the excessive number of facilities occupied. All personnel affected by the closures were re-assigned to other posts or were offered voluntary early retirement if they satisfied eligibility criteria.
It is expected that up to £50 million will be raised from the sale of the barracks and major projects to provide operational, living and recreational accommodation, estimated to cost £30 million, are already under way mainly in the Curragh camp and Collins Barracks, Cork.
The cost of providing security at the vacated barracks amounts to £386,462 to date. On security duty allowances alone, the military authorities have estimated that savings to date amount to more than £250,000. In addition, there have been significant savings on utilities such as telephone and electricity charges which approximate to £25,000 in the case of Murphy Barracks, Ballincollig, for a six month period.
Arising from a request from the Department of Foreign Affairs for accommodation to house the Kosovan refugees, I offered the Department the opportunity to inspect the five vacated barracks to check out their feasibility or otherwise for the accommodation of the refugees. Currently Magee Barracks, Kildare, is being used for this purpose on a temporary basis and the question of using Castleblayney for a similar purpose is under examination.
Additional information.
Arrangements for the sale of the barracks are proceeding and I expect to bring the process to fruition in the coming months. Deputies will appreciate that such matters, of necessity, take time and that the availability for sale of barracks occupied on a temporary basis for the accommodation of refugees will depend on a resolution of the Kosovo situation.
Having regard to the objectives set out in Price Waterhouse, I remain committed to the development of the Defence Forces as a modern and effective organisation staffed and equipped to meet the challenges of the 21st century and I emphasise that the decision to close and dispose of the barracks in question is to enhance the training, accommodation, equipment and, hence, the professionalism of the Defence Forces.
