Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 September 2014
118. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which the various military installations decommissioned over the past number of years have been disposed of or continue to be used for alternative purposes; if rent is payable on foot of any such use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35060/14]
View answerMy Department has been engaged on an ongoing programme of barrack consolidation since 1998. This programme has brought to fourteen the number of barracks closed during that time. To date ten of these barracks - Clancy (Dublin), Castleblaney, Ballincollig, Fermoy, Naas, Monaghan, Cavan, Castlebar, Clonmel and a large portion of Longford - have been sold. In relation to the remaining barracks, agreement has been reached for the sale of Lifford to Donegal County Council and the disposal of Rockhill House Letterkenny is in the process of being finalised following its recent sale by public auction.
The remaining part of Longford has been reserved for sale to the Office of Public Works for the local Garda Síochána.
Magee Barracks in Kildare and Columb Barracks in Mullingar remain the property of the Department of Defence. Approximately eight acres of Magee Barracks has been sold to the Department of Education to facilitate the construction of a new school and it is hoped to auction the remaining portion of the barracks in early to mid 2015.
Columb Barracks in Mullingar is currently used by an Garda Síochána and the Customs Service for training purposes and a large part of the barracks has been licensed to Westmeath GAA Board for use as a potential centre of excellence. As part of the licence agreement, the Board pays a sum to my Department for use of the facility. Discussions are at an advanced stage with the Board in relation to the possible lease of the whole facility.
In addition to the main barracks outlined above a number of other properties have also been identified as surplus to military requirements over recent years mainly consisting of married quarters, Reserve Defence Force (RDF) premises and training lands. A large number of these have already been disposed of whilst others are in the process of being prepared for disposal. A small number of these properties are being used under licence by various organisations including sporting clubs and in some cases by private individuals for grazing purposes until arrangements are finalised for their disposal. In all cases appropriate rents are being paid to my Department by the licensees.
