I propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 809 together.
Again I am aware that this issue was discussed at the recent meeting Deputy Daly and yourself had with officials from my Department. As I have mentioned earlier an assessment of a select group of properties in the Curragh Camp is being completed. This assessment will inform the process of planning for the long term military use of these properties. These properties were formerly used as married quarters. The assessment will provide the Department with a cost per unit for the redevelopment of the properties for military use and will inform a decision on whether it is economically viable to restore and use the properties. The expectation is that given the currently unoccupied properties are for the most part uninhabitable with many in extremely poor condition the cost of refurbishment is likely to be significant.
As these properties are within the Curragh Camp the factors other than the cost of refurbishment per unit that will need to be considered in deciding whether or not to retain properties include:
- Proposals for the redevelopment of the Camp generally in order to improve the overall layout of the facilities.
- The requirements for Single Living In (SLI) accommodation within the camp both presently and into the future.
- Their potential for military use taking account of their configuration both internally and externally.
In addition, any restoration programme will be dependent on the prioritisation of capital projects generally across military barracks in line with available funding.
I will wait until I have received the results of the assessment before I make a decision on how to proceed. However, I must emphasise that any proposed development of former married quarters property at this key military location must in the first instance be considered from the military requirement perspective, therefore I do not at this time consider that it is appropriate to engage with other agencies regarding the future use of these properties.
