P. J. Sheehan
Question:56 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for Defence the cost of security to date in the barracks which are now closed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13723/00]
Written Answers - Army Barracks.
Frances Fitzgerald
Question:131 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence the cost of security to date in the barracks which are closed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13835/00]
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:140 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the current cost of maintenance and other requirements in respect of Devoy Barracks, Naas, County Kildare since its closure in July 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13848/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 56, 131 and 140 together.
The total cost, to date, of security at the vacated military barracks is as follows:
|
Location |
Cost |
|
Ballincollig |
£271,988.69 |
|
Castleblayney |
£103,398.15 |
|
Fermoy |
£143,865.42 |
|
Naas |
£181,109.02 |
|
Kildare |
£88,920.48 |
The maintenance costs paid to date in respect of Devoy Barracks total £6,289.75. This figure is lower than the figure previously indicated for that location in a reply given on 28 March 2000, as the figures for maintenance costs at Magee Barracks, Kildare and Devoy Barracks, Naas were inadvertently transposed in that earlier reply.
The costs for security at Magee Barracks have been borne by the Eastern Health Board since that property was handed over to accommodate Kosovar 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.
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 £540,000. 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 £88,000 in the case of Murphy Barracks, Ballincollig.