Peter Barry
Ceist:99 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Defence the current position regarding the Government's stated aim to sell off military property around the country; and if any specific property has been targeted for disposal in County Cork.
Vol. 423 No. 1
99 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Defence the current position regarding the Government's stated aim to sell off military property around the country; and if any specific property has been targeted for disposal in County Cork.
In accordance with Government policy any military property which is surplus to requirements is offered for sale if it is not required for other State purposes.
As regards the disposal of military barracks and posts the Government decided that Collins Barracks, Dublin should be sold. Arrangements are being made to re-locate the troops stationed there and to sell the property on the open market.
Griffith Barracks, Dublin was vacated and handed over to the Office of Public Works in 1988 and was sold in 1991.
The military post at Fort Dunree, County Donegal was vacated in 1990. The Old Fort, incorporating a military museum, is being handed over to Donegal County Council and the balance of the property is being offered for sale on the open market.
Arising from the closure of the old military barracks in Cavan in 1990 arrangements are in train for the sale of the property to Cavan County Council for social housing purposes.
100 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Defence if he will now approve the sale to the developer by private negotiation through the Valuation Office of a strip of property in his ownership to permit the provision of a vehicular access route from Arbour Hill to a proposed new housing development between Arbour Hill and Halliday Square which has been widely welcomed and which has been delayed for several months solely because of the impasse regarding precisely such an access; his views on whether this is a case for sale by public tender because no other person has any interest in this landlocked site and because part of that site has previously been sold by his Department to the developer by private treaty specifically to facilitate this housing development; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Department's site in question is not landlocked and would not be surplus to requirements until the military facilities there were relocated. Four options for access to the development firm's landlocked site have been identified. It is understood, however, that the firm would prefer to acquire the Department's site both for development and as an access route to its existing site.
It is also understood that the planning situation in relation to access to the development firm's site is being addressed by Dublin Corporation. As far as my Department are concerned the various issues involved, including the arrangements for the relocation of the military facilities are being, and will be, pursued as quickly as possible.
The factual position regarding the part of the site previously sold by my Department to the developer is that the area in question was declared surplus to military requirements in 1991. As it was landlocked by the developer's original site and St. Bricin's Hospital grounds, agreement was reached to sell it to the developer on the basis of the selling price advised by the Commissioner of Valuation. The transaction was in accordance with the rules governing such disposals.