Written Answers. - Army Barracks.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:
110
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Defence
the current position in relation to finalisation of the disposal of Devoy Barracks, Naas, County Kildare; the total receipts finally accruing from the sale thereof; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[28967/00]
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:
111
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Defence
the total receipts accruing from the sale of various military barracks which were closed in July 1998; the extent to which final agreement has been reached in each case with regard to disposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[28968/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 110 and 111 together.
The sale of six barracks identified as surplus to military requirements is being progressed. The barracks in question are located at Fermoy, Ballincollig, Naas, Kildare, Castleblayney and Clancy Barracks, Dublin. Five of the barracks have been vacated while the sixth – Clancy Barracks – will be evacuated next year.
Fitzgerald Camp, Fermoy, is in the process of being sold to Cork County Council for economic development of the site in conjunction with the IDA. The agreed price is £767,000 and it is hoped that the formalities of this sale can be completed in the near future. The lands will be developed and marketed as a strategic industrial site to attract inward investment.
The former Devoy Barracks, Naas, County Kildare, comprises an area of approximately 22 acres. I agreed to cede seven acres free of charge to Naas Urban District Council and to sell one acre to Kildare County Council at a price yet to be agreed, all for local community purposes. I have recently agreed to sell the remaining 14 acres or thereabouts, which are zoned for housing, to Naas UDC for £7 million. The legal formalities to give effect to these agreements have commenced.
In relation to Castleblayney, that property is in the process of being sold to the North Eastern Health Board for £600,000 and it is anticipated that sale contracts will be signed in the near future. Pending completion of the legal and finan cial formalities, a caretaker's agreement was completed and the former barracks was handed over to the health board earlier this year on foot of that agreement.
In relation to the aforementioned properties, where sales have been agreed, the sale formalities are in progress and on completion of those formalities the agreed amounts, totalling £8.367 million, together with an agreed price for the one acre at Naas, will be realised by my Department.
A comprehensive integrated action area plan was commissioned from independent consultants to provide for the future development of the largest of the barracks concerned – Murphy Barracks, Ballincollig. That plan provides for a wide range of community, amenity, residential and commercial uses for the property. The development of the Murphy Barracks lands will be critical in the future overall development of the town of Ballincollig. My Department submitted the integrated plan to Cork County Council in April of this year, for consideration in the context of a variation to the existing Cork County development plan, and my officials met with council officials to discuss various aspects of this matter. Further discussions will take place in the near future and the property will be put on the market following adoption of the integrated plan into the Cork County development plan.
In relation to the need for accommodation for refugees, the vacated Magee Barracks, Kildare, has been used to accommodate Kosovar refugees since May of last year. The barracks is now also providing accommodation for asylum seekers. I have also agreed to provide circa one acre to the local authority for a temporary halting site for 20 persons for a period of one year. In view of those needs, it has not been possible to arrange for the disposal of the property, however, this matter is being kept under review.
Clancy Barracks, Dublin, will be evacuated in the near future when alternative accommodation becomes available. The disposal of the property should proceed in 2001.
As indicated, the disposal of barracks is proceeding and it is expected that in excess of £50 million will be realised from the sale of the properties. The moneys raised will be used primarily for re-equipment and refurbishment within the Defence Forces. The cost of the barrack reinvestment programme is estimated at £50 million. The programme commenced in 1999 and will run until 2003. Provision for this expenditure is being made in my Department Estimates.
Questions Nos. 112, 113, 114 and 115 taken with Question No. 41.
Questions Nos. 116, 117, 118 and 119 taken with Question No. 92.
