asked the Minister for Defence if he will state the total area of land in County Kildare held by his Department; whether there existed any agreement or arrangement with any foreign power binding the State to hold such lands in their possession; and whether such agreement or arrangement is still extant, and, if not, the reasons for not handing over these lands to the Land Commission for division.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kildare Military Lands.
The total area of land in County Kildare administered by my Department is about 820 statute acres, mainly covered by buildings, roads and amenities. This area includes the sites of the Curragh Training Camp and of the Military Barracks at Naas and Kildare. Any portion of the area not covered by buildings is required for military purposes and cannot be handed over to the Land Commission for division.
There is no record in my Department of any agreement or arrangement with any foreign power binding the State to hold this land in its possession.
May I take it that the reason Deputy Corry is asking questions about Kildare is that he has been driven out of East Cork either by Deputy Moher or by the bad reception given by his constituents to the Budget?