Vol. 509 No. 4
38 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence the cost to date of engaging private security firms to protect the barracks he has closed; if any of the barracks have gone to tender; the future plans for these sites; the consultation which is taking place with local communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20532/99]
The Government on 15 July 1998 approved a programme of evacuation and sale of six barracks considered surplus to military requirements. The barracks in question are located in Fermoy, Ballincollig, Naas, Kildare, Castleblayney and Clancy Barracks, Dublin. With the exception of Clancy Barracks, which will be vacated by 1 July 2000, the other five barracks have been vacated.
Following the Government decision, I had consultations with public and community representatives in each of the five locations in which barracks were subsequently evacuated. In addition to those initial meetings, I met Members of the Oireachtas and local councillors in relation to Castleblayney Barracks on 3 February, 3 March and 15 July 1999; local councillors and officials from Naas Urban District Council on 3 March and 10 March 1999 in relation to Devoy Barracks, Naas; and I have met councillors and an official of Kildare County Council on 14 September 1999 in relation to Magee Barracks, Kildare. Discussions also took place between my officials and officials of Cork County Council on 2 December 1998 in relation to Fitzgerald Camp, Fermoy, and Murphy Barracks, Ballincollig. I propose meeting members of Fermoy Urban District Council and officials of Cork County Council on 21 October 1999 to discuss a tender from Cork County Council relating to Fitzgerald Camp.
In relation to Castleblayney, I have decided to sell the site to the North Eastern Health Board for £600,000. The legal and financial formalities have yet to be finalised. In the meantime I propose to allow the North Eastern Health Board to occupy the property under a caretaker agreement. As regards Devoy Barracks, agreement has been reached between my Department and Naas Urban District Council on the transfer of part of the property to the council for local purposes. The balance of the property has been rezoned for housing in line with the development plan for Naas UDC which was adopted on 29 May 1999, and this property will be offered for sale soon. A tender competition for the appointment of selling agents was advertised yesterday.
Arising from a request from the Department of Foreign Affairs for accommodation to house Kosovar refugees, I offered it the opportunity to inspect the five vacated barracks to check out their feasibility or otherwise for the accommodation of the refugees. Magee Barracks, Kildare, is being used for this purpose on a temporary basis. In the interim, tenders from independent consultants are under consideration for the preparation of an area action plan in respect of the former barrack lands. The consultants will submit a report within three months of appointment. The sale of the barracks will proceed as soon as is practicable following evaluation of that report. Following a tender competition for the appointment of independent consultants to draw up an integrated action area plan for Murphy Barracks, Ballincollig, consultants were appointed on 23 August 1999. That plan is due for completion by 23 November of this year and the property will be disposed of following evaluation of that report.
Additional information
The total cost to date of security and essential maintenance and other services at the vacated military barracks are as follows:
|
Location |
SecurityCosts |
Maintenance(including theprovisionof lighting etc.) |
Devoy Barracks
£130,213.66
£2,463
Fitzgerald Camp
£90,130.48
£11,221
Castleblayney
£79,609.52
£5,000
Murphy Barracks
£176,542.80
£18,963
Magee Barracks£88,920.48
£7,156
It should be noted that a portion of Fitzgerald Camp, Fermoy, is occupied by a battalion of the FCA. The costs for security at Magee Barracks have been borne by the Eastern Health Board since that property was handed over to accommodate Kosovar refugees on 12 May 1999.
The military authorities have estimated that the savings to date on security duty allowances amount to more than £375,000. In addition, there have been significant savings on utilities such as telephone and electricity charges. It is expected that up to £50 million will be realised from the sale of the barracks.
It appears in a number of cases that the Minister has run into a variety of problems relating to the sale of closed barracks. What is the Minister's estimate of the amount of money which will be reinvested in the Defence Forces as a result of his decision and when will that reinvestment be made?
I am not so sure that I agree we have run into difficulties. We have had very successful discussions with Naas Urban District Council, we have rezoned the land and we are about to sell it. To do anything before this without obtaining local agreement and rezoning would have been highly irresponsible and would have produced a much worse outcome for the taxpayer and the Defence Forces. We have disposed of Castleblayney and we are almost ready to dispose of Fitzgerald Camp. Area action plans are being drawn up for the large barracks in Ballincollig and Kildare because they are very important for the development of the towns and the plans are necessary to enhance the value of the barracks. There is a broad agreement with that and, when I met representatives of Kildare County Council, they endorsed that, as did those from the Cork local authorities.
We estimate the total value of these sales will be approximately £50 million. It may well be that, in light of market forces, it could be higher than that when we come to dispose of them. I am optimistic that, for the year 2000 and 2001, significant investment will be made in the Defence Forces arising from those sales. There was an agreement to have 60 per cent of total receipts invested in the Defence Forces which would be about £30 million. If I were successful in having the compensation scheme running properly, I would argue for a slightly larger percentage to go towards investment to assist me with the equipment problems I face and so that I do not always rely on the taxpayer for funding. We have at least 60 per cent but perhaps we could do a little better than that. That would certainly increase the £30 million figure.
Will the Minister—
This is a priority question, Deputy Crawford.
Is it not in ordinary time?
No, we are operating under the new system where a period of six minutes is allocated for each question. We will now move to Question No. 39 which is in ordinary time.
