Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 May 2000

Vol. 519 No. 5

Adjournment Debate. - Army Barracks.

Mr. Wall:

I thank the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development for taking this matter as I am aware the Minister for Defence is overseas.

At a number of meetings with departmental officials and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in regard to the provision of facilities for asylum seekers at Magee Barracks, Kildare, everyone in attendance highlighted the importance of the Magee Barracks site to the people of Kildare. It was stressed that the proposed integrated area plan which had been discussed with the Minister for Defence and public and community representatives as part of the sale of the barracks should not be delayed because of the proposed Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform development. It was endorsed by all present as being a vital part of the overall package devised by the people of Kildare. I attended meetings with all the interested groups and everyone was emphatic that the development of the barracks was vital to the progress of the town.

Following last Wednesday's Question Time, a major cloud seems to hang over those proposals. In reply to a supplementary question in which I asked the Minister for Defence to give a commitment that the area plan, as envisaged in his meetings with public representatives in Kildare, would proceed, the Minister replied:

I cannot state for certain that we will revert to the integrated area plans. It is a significant block of land ideally located in terms of the development of the town. I would like to be more optimistic and hope we would revert to the original plans but I cannot be sure.

This is totally unacceptable. It is vitally important that the Ministers for Defence and Justice, Equality and Law Reform meet to clarify the position. They cannot undermine the plans which were enthusiastically drawn up by interested local groups as this will undermine their efforts to integrate the 300 Kosovar refugees and the 150 asylum seekers into the local community. They will see it as a stab in the back because, following the completion of all the meetings, everyone felt that the integrated plan and the facilitation of asylum seekers and refugees would go hand in hand.

The Minister must immediately rectify the damage which has been done and state that the integrated plan will continue to be processed and that every effort will be made to arrange meetings with interested local groups and public representatives to develop it further. The people of Kildare have not been found wanting in regard to facilitating and working with the 300 Kosovar refugees who have lived in the town for a number of years. Furthermore, the town has taken 150 asylum seekers on board.

The integrated plan and the development of the 20 acres which the Minister for Defence envisaged would be provided to the local community should not be put on hold because of this development. The people of Kildare saw the development of those 20 acres as part and parcel of their efforts to integrate asylum seekers and refugees in the town as they would then be in a position to provide sports and recreation facilities and the other facilities necessary for the town's development. The integrated plan was jeopardised by the Minister's statement last Wednesday and I hope the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development will ensure that that cloud is lifted in order that the people of Kildare can work towards improving facilities and can continue to provide hospitality to refugees and asylum seekers in the town.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh):

I apologise for the fact that the Minister for Defence is unable to be in the House this evening as he is overseas.

I thank Deputy Wall for raising this matter and bringing it to the attention of the House and I welcome the opportunity to outline the present position with regard to the status of Magee Barracks, Kildare. The Government, on 15 July 1998, approved a programme of evacuation and sale of six barracks which were considered surplus to military requirements. This decision was part of the relocation, refurbishment and re-equipment of the Defence Forces, as recommended in the context of the PricewaterhouseCoopers report. The Government remains fully committed to this important programme.

It is expected that in excess of £50 million will be raised from the sale of the barracks. Most of the proceeds will be invested in the redevelopment of other military installations and new equipment. The proposed sale will provide prime sites to meet housing, commercial and industrial and other development needs in the areas concerned. In addition, 15% of the proceeds is to be devoted to community projects in the areas involved. The Minister initiated an extensive consultative process with local representatives and organisations on this aspect. The Government decision of 15 July 1998 identified Magee Barracks as one of the properties for disposal. The property comprises approximately 60 acres and occupies a most significant site dominating one side of Kildare town.

I am aware that the local authority would like a mixed development on these lands in the interests of the town. In this connection, it was considered essential that a plan be drawn up which would have regard to the needs of the community to allow for an overall balanced development of the property to achieve its maximum potential. Accordingly, a tender competition was arranged for the appointment of independent consultants to prepare an area action plan in respect of the former barracks lands. A number of the proposals received were shortlisted and those consultants placed on the shortlist made presentations before a selection committee on 16 February 2000. On 14 April 1999 the Government agreed to the admission into the State of up to 1,000 refugees of ethnic Albanian origin who fled Kosovo. Consequent on this and arising from a request from the Department of Foreign Affairs for accommodation to house Kosovar refugees, the Minister offered that Department the opportunity to inspect the five vacated barracks to check out their feasibility or otherwise for the accommodation of the refugees. Magee Barracks was considered suitable for this purpose and 241 Kosovar refugees are currently accommodated in mobile homes in the barracks grounds.

The evacuation programme in 1999 for Kosovar refugees was always seen as a temporary measure. The refugees were given permission to remain in Ireland for one year. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees has now indicated that, for the vast majority of Kosovar refugees, there is no longer a need for temporary protection in host countries. The programme will, therefore, be gradually wound down and returning refugees will receive assistance to help them start the process of rebuilding their lives in Kosovo. The Government expects most refugees to return to Kosovo over the next few months. However, it is recognised that there may be individual cases of vulnerable refugees who may require protection for a further temporary period. Such cases will be looked at sympathetically by the Government. It is intended that, where refugees are given permission to remain for a further temporary period, they will move out of the existing reception centres into private rented accommodation.

The question of making accommodation available for refugees and asylum seekers has been the subject of ongoing discussion between the Department of Defence and various Government agencies. In relation to the urgent need for accommodation for asylum seekers, the Government decided on 28 March 2000 that mobile home accommodation should be provided for asylum seekers in Magee Barracks. This accommodation would form part of the temporary accommodation arrangements to be put in place as an interim solution to the urgent need for the provision of such accommodation.

The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform made an order under the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1993, exempting the provision of accommodation at Magee Barracks from planning procedures. This order was on the basis that such accommodation was required urgently and would be of a short-term duration. It was initially intended to make provision for 100 mobile homes. However, following consultations between representatives from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and representatives from the local community, it was agreed that this number would be reduced to 50 mobile homes to accommodate approximately 200 people.

Representatives from the Office of Public Works have also been in discussions with representatives from local residents' groups and I understand that agreement was reached on 18 May 2000 concerning boundary treatment, security and privacy issues. I understand that the community is now satisfied with these arrangements. The area to be used for the accommodation of asylum seekers at Magee Barracks is approximately 7.8 acres. As indicated to the House in response to questions last Wednesday, the Minister did not anticipate the problems which have arisen in relation to Magee Barracks.

The Minister asked me to reiterate his appreciation of the co-operation of the community and public representatives in Kildare, notwithstanding their and the Minister's disappointment that he was unable to proceed with the area action plan at this time. We must be mindful of our broader national obligations. The Minister will keep the matter under review in the light of developments and will consult with the Deputies at the appropriate time.