Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 17 Feb 2000

Vol. 514 No. 5

Written Answers. - Army Barracks.

Paul Connaughton

Question:

20 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Defence the cost to date of providing private security firms to guard the closed Army barracks viz. Clancy, Ballincollig, Castleblayney, Fermoy, Naas and Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4618/00]

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

116 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence the cost to date of providing private security firms to guard the closed Army barracks viz. Clancy, Ballincollig, Castleblayney, Fermoy, Naas and Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4657/00]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 116 together.

The cost, to date, of security at the vacated military barracks is as follows:

Location	Security Costs£
Ballincollig	229,681.17
Castleblayney	103,224.62
Fermoy	120,724.60
Naas	149,841.82
Kildare	88,920.48

The costs for security at Magee Barracks have been borne by the Eastern Health Board since that property was handed over to accommodate Kosovan refugees on 12 May 1999. Castleblayney military barracks was transferred to the North-Eastern Health Board on a caretaker basis on 9 February 2000 and no further security costs will fall to be met by my Department in relation to that property.

Clancy Barracks will not be vacated until later this year and therefore no private security costs have arisen at that location.

Significant savings have arisen since the evacuation of the five barracks placed under private security arrangements. On military security duty allowances alone, it is estimated that savings to date amount to more than £450,000. In addition, there have been significant savings on utility costs such as telephone, gas and electricity charges at each of the evacuated barracks which, for example, would have amounted to approximately £72,000 in the case of Murphy Barracks, Ballincollig.