Michael D. Higgins
Question:30 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding the proposed sale of the various Army barracks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11777/02]
Written Answers. - Army Barracks
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:33 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which the financial targets identified in the context of the closure of a number of military installations throughout the country in 1998 have been met; if he anticipates their conclusion in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11861/02]
Ruairí Quinn
Question:40 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding the sale of Clancy Barracks, Dublin; if a sale has been agreed; if so, the purchaser and the price agreed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11784/02]
Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith): I propose to take Questions Nos. 30, 33 and 40 together.
The Government, on 15 July 1998, approved a programme of evacuation and sale of six barracks which are considered surplus to military requirements. The barracks in question are located at Fermoy, Ballincollig, Naas, Kildare, Castleblayney and Clancy Barracks, Dublin.
The sale of 19.218 acres at the former Fitzgerald Camp, Fermoy, to Cork County Council in conjunction with the IDA, for €973,889, has been completed.
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 €380,921, all for local community purposes. I also agreed to sell the remaining 14 acres or thereabouts, which are zoned for housing, to Naas UDC for €8,888,167. The legal formalities to give effect to these agreements are progressing and I expect them to be completed very shortly.
In relation to Castleblayney, the property has been sold to the North Eastern Health Board for €761,843 and the legal formalities are now completed.
The integrated action area plan, commissioned from independent consultants to provide for the future development of the former Murphy Barracks, Ballincollig, has been adopted by Cork County Council. Lisneys have been appointed as selling agents and the property is being advertised for sale by public tender this week. The closing date for receipt of tenders is 7 June 2002.
In relation to the need for accommodation, the vacated Magee Barracks, Kildare, is now providing accommodation for asylum seekers. I 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. Kildare County Council has recently requested that the term be extended and the matter is being examined in my Department at present. In relation to the remainder of this site I am arranging early discussions with all the interested parties including the local authority.
Clancy Barracks, Dublin, was advertised by the selling agents, Hamilton Osborne King, for sale by public tender on 14 June 2001. Two bids were received one of which was from Dublin City Council. Both tenders were considered too low to permit acceptance. My Department is, of course, prepared to talk to any party interested in purchasing the property, which remains on the market and in this regard ongoing discussions are taking place with officials of the Department of the Environment and Local Government and Dublin City Council. It is my intention to generate the maximum return from the site for re-investment in essential Defence Forces needs. A portion of Clancy Barracks is currently being used to accommodate the homeless and a further area is being used for film making. Arising from this, some of the security costs for the barracks are being recouped from Dublin City Council and the film company. In this regard a sum of €15,313 has been recouped to date.
Arising from the temporary provision of accommodation for asylum seekers, the cost of security at Magee Barracks, Kildare, is now met by the Office of Public Works and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. As Castleblayney Military Barracks and the former Fitzgerald Camp, Fermoy, have been sold, no further costs fall to be met by my Department in relation to either of those properties.
The total expenditure in relation to the former barracks since closure now stands at €2,183,867. The total costs include expenditure on security, utilities, maintenance, advertising, etc.
Significant savings have arisen since the evacuation of the six barracks placed under private security arrangements. On military security duty alone, it is estimated that savings to date amount to €1,513,359. 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 €243,218 in the case of Murphy Barracks, Ballincollig.