Jack Wall
Question:122 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Defence the proposals his Department has to develop the hospital at the Curragh Camp, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29727/00]
Written Answers. - Defence Forces Property.
The military authorities have advised that following the reorganisation of the Defence Forces, effected on 1 November 1998, under the Defence Forces review implementation plan, the number of military hospitals was rationalised from three to one, with the redesignation of the Curragh and Cork hospitals as military medical facilities.
Outpatient services are continuing at the Curragh military medical facility and a 30 bed infirmary facility is being maintained.
The medical school of the Combat Support Services College, CSSC, is now being located in the former hospital building. The necessary structural refurbishment is scheduled to finish at the end of this month.
Jack Wall
Question:123 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Defence the current position of the sale of Magee Barracks, County Kildare, in view of the fact that the Kosovar refugees have now left; the plans he has to dispose of the site apart from the land designated to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform for asylum seekers; the number of meetings his Department has had with the local authority and interested local bodies regarding this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29728/00]
As the Deputy has outlined, the vacated Magee Barracks, Kildare, has been used to accommodate Kosovar refugees from May 1999 to end of September 2000. The former barracks is now providing accommodation for asylum seekers and I have also agreed to provide circa one acre to the local authority for the provision of a temporary halting site for 20 persons for a period of one year. In view of those needs it has not been possible to arrange for the disposal of the property. However, this matter is being kept under review.
I had a meeting with Kildare county councillors on 14 September 1999 and my officials have had two meetings with local authority officials on 22 January 1999 and on 3 November 2000. I anticipate that further meetings will be held, as necessary, in early 2001.