Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 November 2004
75 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Defence if there are any further plans to close Army barracks in the State; if the future of the three Army barracks in Donegal is secure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28823/04]
View answer86 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Defence the property which he is considering to be sold in order to raise money for new equipment for the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28832/04]
View answer613 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which all military installations decommissioned in 1998 have been disposed of; the total accruing to the Exchequer; the total costs associated with maintenance, security and so on, in the interim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29271/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 75, 86 and 613together.
On 15 July 1998, the Government approved a programme of evacuation and sale of six barracks considered surplus to military requirements. The barracks in question were 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 and 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 — was completed in 2003. A further area comprising more than 27 acres at Murphy barracks is being handed over to Cork County Council for community use. Agreements have also been reached for the sale of a site comprising approximately 2.7 acres to the Southern Heath Board and a further plot of approximately 1.7 acres to the Department of Education and Science. Receipts in excess of €2.8 million will accrue to my Department in respect of those disposals. An area comprising approximately 0.545 of an acre has been set aside on foot of a request from the Office of Public Works for a plot of ground to facilitate extension of the existing Garda station located on Main Street, Ballincollig. My Department is in correspondence with the OPW on arrangements for transfer of the lands concerned, including the matter of a consideration therefor. 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, County Monaghan, comprising approximately ten acres, was sold to the North Eastern Health Board for €761,843 in 2002. 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 the barracks lands — one acre — was sold to Kildare County Council for €380,921 in 2002.
The Government decided in July 2003 that Magee barracks, Kildare, and Gormanston Camp, County Meath, would be among the State lands released for inclusion in the sustaining progress affordable housing initiative. The modalities of the transfer of these properties, as well as sites at St. Bricin's Hospital, Dublin, and at Collins barracks, Cork, to the relevant local authorities are under active consideration in consultation with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Chief State Solicitor's Office. The sale of Clancy barracks, Dublin, comprising 13.65 acres approximately, to Florence Properties Limited for €25.4 million was completed earlier this year. The disposal of a number of other minor surplus properties owned by my Department has also been completed during this period. The value of sales-disposals completed since 1998 has totalled in excess of €88 million.
There are currently no plans to close any further barracks or to alter the status of military posts at Finner camp, Lifford and Rockhill House, Letterkenny. The Department's property portfolio is, however, kept under continual review and any properties surplus to military requirements will be disposed of to fund much needed investment to meet the equipment and infrastructure needs of the Defence Forces.
The security, maintenance, consultancy and other costs in respect of those barracks identified for closure in 1998 are as follows:
|
Security |
Maintenance and Other Costs |
|
|
€ |
€ |
|
|
Murphy Barracks, Ballincollig # |
1,120,604 |
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 # |
649,441 |
203,089 |
