Michael Ring
Question:33 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Defence the amount of revenue raised to date from the disposal of military barracks which were closed in July 1998. [3903/01]
Other Questions. - Army Barracks.
Jack Wall
Question:45 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding the sale of lands by his Department in regard to those barracks in respect of which announcements have already been made and any others that may be under negotiation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3999/01]
Seán Power
Question:88 Mr. Power asked the Minister for Defence the position in relation to his plans to dispose of the barracks in Kildare town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4151/01]
Question:
92 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding the disposal of a site (details supplied) in Dublin 8; if this site will be auctioned publicly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4170/01]
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:97 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the total amount realised to date from the disposal of military installations at various locations which were closed down in 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4214/01]
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:98 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the number of military installations throughout the country decommissioned by him in 1998 which have not been sold; the anticipated benefit to the Exchequer arising from such disposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4215/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 33, 45, 88, 92, 97 and 98 together.
The sale of six barracks identified as surplus to military requirements is being progressed. The barracks in question are located at Fermoy, Ballincollig, Naas, Kildare, Castleblayney and Clancy Barracks, Dublin.
Fitzgerald Camp, Fermoy, is the process of being sold to Cork County Council for economic development of the site in conjunction with the IDA. The agreed price is £767,000 and it is hoped that the formalities of this sale can be completed in the near future. The lands will be developed and marketed as a strategic industrial site to attract inward investment.
The former Devoy Barracks, Naas, County Kildare, comprises an area of approximately 22 acres. I agreed to cede seven acres free of charge to Naas Urban District Council and to sell one acre to Kildare County Council for £300,000, all for local community purposes. I have recently agreed to sell the remaining 14 acres or thereabouts, which are zoned for housing, to Naas UDC for £7 million. The legal formalities to give effect to these agreements have commenced.
In relation to Castleblayney, that property is in the process of being sold to the North Eastern Health Board for £600,000 and it is anticipated that sale contracts will be signed in the near future. Pending completion of the legal and finan cial formalities, a caretaker's agreement was completed and the former barracks was handed over to the health board last year on foot of that agreement. A comprehensive integrated action area plan was commissioned from independent consultants to provide for the future development of the largest of the barracks, Murphy Barracks, Ballincollig. That plan provides for a wide range of community, amenity, residential and commercial uses for the property. The development of the Murphy Barracks lands will be critical in the future overall development of the town of Ballincollig. My Department submitted the integrated plan to Cork County Council in April of last year for consideration in the context of a variation to the existing Cork county development plan. Discussions are ongoing between Cork County Council and my Department to determine the best way forward to realise the potential of the integrated plan while taking account of the aspirations of all sides. It is hoped to bring the matter to a conclusion at an early date.
As regards the need for accommodation, the vacated Magee Barracks, Kildare, is now providing accommodation for asylum seekers. I have also agreed to provide one acre to the local authority for 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.
Clancy Barracks, Dublin, will be evacuated in the near future when alternative accommodation becomes available. My Department has advertised a tender competition for the appointment of selling agents to undertake the sale of the barracks of 13.66 acres. The tenders are under examination at present and sale of the property will proceed this year. In addition to the foregoing properties, agreements have also been reached for the sale of the following: 1.07 acres at Arbour Hill to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform for £2.5 million; 6.39 acres known as Susan's Field, adjoining Collins Barracks, Cork, to Cork Corporation for £1.2 million; 3.0192 acres at Sarsfield Barracks, Limerick, to Limerick Corporation for £915,000; 1.559 acres at Waterford Barracks to Waterford Corporation for £550,000; 20 acres of the Curragh lands to Kildare County Council for £215,000 to assist with the construction of the Kildare by-pass and 100 married quarters at Orchard Park, Curragh, County Kildare, to residents, which will realise £3 million approximately. The disposal of 10 acres at Mellows Field beside Renmore Barracks, Galway, will proceed as soon as is practicable.
As indicated, the disposal of barracks is proceeding and it is expected that in excess of £50 million will be realised from the sale of the properties. The money raised will be used primarily for re-equipment and refurbishment within the Defence Forces. The cost of the barrack re-investment programme is estimated at £50 million. The programme commenced in 1999 and will run until 2003. Provision for this expenditure is being made in my Department's Estimates.
It is interesting that the Minister hopes to realise £50 million from the sale of the existing barracks. He mentioned other family silver that he sold off in recent times and that amounts to nearly £7 million. Will the £50 million be spent on redeveloping existing barracks? Is any of that currently being spent? Where will the £7 million be spent?
I indicated that the anticipated money that will accrue to my Department from the sale of these properties will be spent in the receiving barracks, in other words, where a barracks is closed down an accommodating unit would be there. Starting with the Curragh Camp, the following projects are either under way or about to commence: the combat support college, £4.75 million; swimming pool, £4 million; NCOs mess, £1.5 million; refurbishment of wards 3 and 4 hospital, £0.52 million; NCOs dining complex west, £3 million; combat service support college, £1.3 million; Command Headquarters Clarke Barracks, £1.5 million; Connolly Barracks student accommodation, £2.2 million; A and B Blocks Clarke Barracks, £1.4 million and upgrading the lecture hall, £0.5 million. Collins Barracks, Cork, men's new dining hall, £1.7 million; new NCOs mess, £1.37 million; new storage facilities, £2.5 million; new gymnasium and sports hall, £1.6 million; accommodation all ranks £0.8 million. The cost of professional fees for all the developments is about £3 million. Very substantial investment, as well as the normal investment, is being made primarily in those areas because they were significant receivers of big numbers.
I am delighted to hear all the work mentioned in relation to the Curragh.
I am changing the face of that place.
As the Minister knows, it needed massive investment.
They will be swimming there later this year.
In the case of Orchard Park, I know the problem does not lie with the Department but I ask the Minister to do everything possible to complete the sale of the houses. Although the Minister has tried everything, people still wonder when the deal will go through. As regards Devoy Barracks, Naas, St. David's Boxing Club was a tenant of the Department for many years but it has been left without a premises. Has Devoy Barracks in Naas been sold or is there a possibility of doing something for that club?
The Minister said he had given lands to local authorities. When one allocation was not acceptable he gave a second allocate to facilitate the local authority in overcoming the major problem which existed. However, there is still a problem with the entrance.
A question, please.
Will the Minister and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform try to resolve this ongoing problem?
At least Deputy Wall understands the problem. There is local opposition to the new entrance. I tried to accommodate the local authority when it had a difficulty with my earlier allocation. I took on board a further suggestion but this is now embroiled in local dispute. I am sorry about this as there needs to be a better understanding of the problems. There are not many options open to us but we will continue to look at them.
The Deputy is the patron saint of hopeless cases when he suggests that when the deal is closed in Naas there is another part of the area which someone from somewhere has found. I certainly have not been able to find it. I dedicated seven areas to the local authority free of charge, while the rest was sold for a competitive price. That is where the issue rests. We have concluded our work with the Chief State Solicitor's office in the context of the Orchard Park sales. If there is any other stumbling block we will be happy to take it out of the way as we want the sale to proceed, for people to take up ownership of the houses and to see the area improved in tandem with the general improvement of the Curragh.
I will allow a question from the three Deputies offering and a final reply from the Minister.
The Minister said that the ten acres surplus to requirements at Dún Uí Mhaoiliosa Barracks, Renmore, at the Ballyloughan end would be offered for sale soon. Will he ensure that the Liam Mellows hurling club which adjoins this property will get the three or four acres it requires to expand its pitches? They do not want it for less than the valuation the Department put on it. Does the Minister have the power to ensure that the club gets this part of the property? The remaining part could then be put up for public auction. Everyone in the area would be satisfied if this was the outcome, as seems to have happened in the other cases to which the Minister referred.
Was it a Government decision to sell Fitzgerald Camp to Cork County Council and were there other interested parties? At one stage the Minister said he would hand over the church at Fitzgerald Camp to the local community. Has this been done? Does the Minister plan to sell any other properties in the future?
I missed the beginning of the Minister's reply. Will any of the money raised from the sale of these assets be used for the purchase of military equipment?
Does the Minister anticipate that the £950,000 which he will get from the disposal of land at Sarsfield Barracks to Limerick Corporation will be spent on Sarsfield Barracks?
I intend to look after Sarsfield Barracks as best I can. This land was surplus to requirements. I will look at the needs of the barracks. When I visited the barracks I indicated that funds would be provided. The problem with the roof has been attended to. Work also needs to be done on windows etc. and this will be done.
I have no further plans to sell property. The sale of property worked well and has been well received by the Defence Forces. Considerable moneys are available for investment, particularly in accommodation and improving the general environment in which the Defence Forces work and train.
Will any of the money be used for military equipment?
I do not want to be too specific—
Please be specific.
I want to ensure the greatest flexibility possible in terms of how we manage our financial resources. When the contingent went to Kosovo £6 million was needed for drops so that it could deliver building materials and visit villages which were in trouble in a safe way. I do not rule out any of these possibilities. The money will be used primarily for accommodation.
When we initiated the programme we wanted community involvement and to dedicate part of the sale of the property or land to the community. I have had discussions with people throughout the country. Notwithstanding the odd row with Galway on the hurling field, sports clubs come first in my mind. The people who organise hurling and other sports deserve every help they can get. I will do my best to give consideration to this proposition in the context of those lands.
I have to declare an interest as my sons play hurling with the Liam Mellows hurling club.