Written Answers. - Defence Forces Property.
Proinsias De Rossa
Question:
36
Proinsias De Rossa
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.
[9007/01]
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
100
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Defence
if all matters relating to the disposal of Devoy Barracks, Naas, County Kildare have been concluded; if there are any moneys still outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9263/01]
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
101
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Defence
the receipts to date arising from his disposal of the various military barracks and installations throughout the country; the costs arising from or associated with the disposal; the current projected extra costs still likely to arise; the degree to which spending arising from the disposal has taken place to upgrade facilities in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9264/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 36, 100 and 101 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 in 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 also 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 are progressing.
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 financial 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. The legal formalities to complete the sale are progressing.
A comprehensive integrated action area plan was commissioned from independent consultants to provide for the future development of the largest of the barracks concerned, Murphy Barracks, Ballincollig. That plan provides for a wide range of community, amenity, residential and commercial uses for the property. The development of the lands at Murphy Barracks will be critical in the future overall development of Ballincollig. Last April my Department submitted the integrated plan to Cork County Council 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 conclusion at an early date.
In relation to the need for accommodation, the vacated Magee Barracks, Kildare, is now providing accommodation for asylum seekers. I have also agreed to provide circa 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. 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. At present the tenders are under examination and sale of the property will proceed this year.
In addition to the forgoing 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 bypass, and 100 married quarters at Orchard Park, Curragh, County Kildare to residents which will realise £3 million approximately.
The disposal of ten acres at Mellows Field beside Renmore Barracks, Galway will proceed as soon as is practicable.
The costs associated with the sale of the six barracks identified for disposal in 1998 are as follows:
|
Fermoy
|
Advertising etc.
|
£6,285
|
|
Security costs
|
£225,864
|
|
Naas
|
Advertising etc.
|
£25,340
|
|
Security costs
|
£268,483
|
|
Castleblayney
|
Advertising etc.
|
£21,649
|
|
Security costs
|
£103,398
|
|
Ballincollig
|
Advertising, integrated plan etc.
|
£101,793
|
|
Security costs
|
£421,283
|
|
Magee Kildare
|
Advertising etc.
|
£4,054
|
|
Security costs
|
£88,920
|
|
Clancy
|
Advertising etc.
|
£5,493
|
Savings to date on military security duty allowances amount to £840,000 approximately. In addition, there have been significant savings on utility costs such as telephone, gas and electricity charges at each of the evacuated barracks. Contingent on the closing dates for the sales, additional costs will arise in respect of the sale of the barracks.
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 moneys raised will be used primarily for re-equipment and refurbishment within the Defence Forces. The barrack re-investment programme commenced in 1999 and will run until 2003. Expenditure to date amounts to:
|
Year
|
£ million
|
|
1999
|
2.265
|
|
2000
|
7.943
|
|
2001 (to date)
|
4.845
|
Future projected expenditure is as follows:
|
Year
|
£ million
|
|
2001 (balance)
|
28.233
|
|
2002
|
3.078
|
|
2003
|
0.933
|
Provision for this expenditure is being made in my Department's Estimates.
Question No. 37 answered with Question No. 33.
