Bernard J. Durkan
Question:54 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the total receipts accruing from the disposal of the various military installations which he closed down in 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29614/03]
Written Answers. - Army Barracks.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:55 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the cost incurred in the provision of security or other services at the various military installations which were decommissioned in 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29615/03]
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:56 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the way in which it is intended to dispose of the remaining military barracks which were closed in 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29616/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 to 56, inclusive, together.
The Government, on 15 July 1998, approved a programme of evacuation and sale of six barracks considered surplus to military requirements. The barracks in question are located at Ballincollig, Fermoy, Castleblayney, Naas, Kildare and Clancy Barracks, Dublin.
The sale of approximately 91 acres comprising Lot 1, Murphy Barracks, Ballincollig, to O'Flynn Construction for €41 million has been completed. In addition, the sale of Lot 2 to the sitting tenant for €1.05 million – my Department's reversionary interest in approximately 6.2 acres of the barrack lands – has also been completed. A further area comprising more than 27 acres at Murphy Barracks will be handed over to Cork County Council for community use.
Some 19.218 acres at the former Fitzgerald Camp, Fermoy, were sold to Cork County Council in 2001 for €973,889 for development in conjunction with the IDA. Castleblayney Military Post, Monaghan, comprising approximately ten acres, was sold to the North-Eastern Health Board for €761,843. A total of seven acres at Devoy Barracks, Naas, County Kildare, were ceded free of charge to Naas Urban District Council, while a further 14 acres were sold to that authority for €8,888,167. The balance of barracks lands, one acre, was sold to Kildare County Council for €380,921.
Magee Barracks, Kildare, comprises an area of 65 acres. Currently, approximately 15 acres of the property are being used by the reception and integration agency of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to accommodate asylum seekers and a further site comprising approximately one acre is being used by Kildare County Council as a temporary halting site for 20 persons.
The Government on 1 July 2003 decided to release this property to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government for inclusion in a new affordable housing initiative agreed under the national partnership agreement, Sustaining Progress.
My Department has accepted an offer from Florence Properties Limited for the sale of Clancy Barracks, Dublin, comprising 13.65 acres approximately. It is hoped to have a contract of sale completed shortly. Pending the signing of the contract of sale it would not be appropriate to comment on details of the sale.
The security, maintenance, consultancy and other costs to-date in respect of those barracks identified for closure in 1998 is as follows:
|
Security |
Maintenance& OtherCosts |
|
|
Murphy Barracks, Ballincollig # |
€1,451,418 |
€257,113* |
|
Fitzgerald Camp, Fermoy # |
€330,813 |
€42,633 |
|
Castleblayney Military Post # |
€131,289 |
€10,548 |
|
Devoy Barracks, Naas # |
€472,654 |
€16,959 |
|
Magee Barracks, Kildare # |
€123,291 |
€15,677 |
|
Clancy Barracks, Dublin |
€581,328 |
€161,405 |
#Now sold or no longer in the administration of my Department (no further costs will be incurred by the Department of Defence).
*Includes costs relating to the Integrated Area Action Plan.
On military security duty allowances alone, it is estimated that savings to date amount to more than €2.2 million in respect of the six barracks closed. In addition, there have been significant savings on utility costs, such as telephone, gas, and electricity charges at each of the evacuated barracks which would have amounted to over €0.350 million in the case of Murphy Barracks.