Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 28 Mar 2000

Vol. 516 No. 6

Written Answers. - Army Barracks.

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

128 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. [4618/00]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

216 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the total cost of maintenance and security or other service costs in respect of each of the military barracks, the closure of which he announced in July 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9180/00]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 128 and 216 together.

The total costs to date of security and essential maintenance and other services at the vacated military barracks are as follows:

Location	SecurityCosts	Maintenance(including the provision of lighting, etc.)
	£	£
Ballincollig	246,959.06	24,227.15
Castleblayney	103,398.15	8,320.03
Fermoy	130,386.01	15,819.33
Naas	154,955.74	11,067.04
Kildare	88,920.48	6,125.76

It should be noted that a portion of Fitzgerald Camp, Fermoy, is occupied by a battalion of the FCA.

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 almost £500,000. 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 £80,000 in the case of Murphy Barracks, Ballincollig.