Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 3 Nov 1999

Vol. 510 No. 1

Written Answers. - Defence Forces Property.

Deirdre Clune

Ceist:

92 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Defence his response to the request from the Department of the Environment and Local Government that lands at the former Army barracks be made available for local authority housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21909/99]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

The Government decided on 15 July 1998 to offer six military barracks for sale. The barracks selected for closure and disposal were: Fitzgerald Camp, Fermoy; Murphy Barracks, Ballincollig; Devoy Barracks, Naas; Magee Barracks, Kildare; Clancy Barracks, Dublin and Castleblayney Military Barracks.

With the exception of Clancy Barracks, which will be vacated by 1 July 2000, the other five barracks have been evacuated.

I have decided to dispose of Fitzgerald Camp, Fermoy, to Cork County Council for economic development of the site in conjunction with the IDA. The lands will be developed and marketed as a strategic industrial site to attract inward investment. This development will greatly assist in the continuing revitalisation of Fermoy and will greatly enhance its potential for future industrial development.

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. The consultants appointed were required to liaise with the local authority and all other interested parties with regard to the formulation of the plan. In this connection the National Building Agency made a submission which will be considered in the context of the future of the lands at Ballincollig. That plan is due for completion by 23 November 1999, and the property will be disposed of following evaluation of that report.

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 in the near future. A tender competition for the appointment of selling agents was advertised recently.

Arising from a request from the Department of Foreign Affairs for accommodation to house Kosovar refugees, I offered that Department the opportunity to inspect the five vacated barracks to check out their feasibility or otherwise for the accommodation of the refugees. Currently, 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.

In relation to Castleblayney, I have decided to sell the site to the North-Eastern Health Board for use as a high support child care residential unit. The legal and financial formalities have yet to be finalised. In the meantime, I propose to allow the North-Eastern Health Board occupy the property under a caretaker agreement.

As part of an ongoing review of the Department's properties and bearing in mind the continuing pressure on land resources in major cities and towns, I have decided that as a contribution to alleviating the shortage of land for housing the following properties adjoining barracks should be disposed of: Susan's Field, adjoining Collins Barracks, Cork, six acres; Old Married Quarters, adjoining Sarsfield Barracks, Limerick, two and a half acres and Mellowes Field, adjoining Renmore Barracks, Galway, ten acres.

In addition, an area of one and a half acres of the barracks in Waterford city, which is used by the FCA, is to be sold.

I am aware that there is constant pressure on the relevant authorities with regard to suitable land for housing and it is considered that the sale of these prime properties in Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford will go some way towards relieving that pressure.