Dinny McGinley
Ceist:169 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Defence the property in the ownership of his Department sold to date; and the proceeds from each sale. [25306/03]
Written Answers. - Defence Forces Property.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:200 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the progress in regard to the benefits to the State accruing from the military installations in County Kildare which were closed by the Government in 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25625/03]
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:201 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which military installations closed by the Government in 1998 have been disposed of to date; the amount realised; the cost of administration, security or other overheads such as consultants reports in the intervening period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25627/03]
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:205 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence if the closure of further military installations is not being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25631/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 169, 200, 201 and 205 together.
On 15 July 1998, the Government approved a programme of evacuation and sale of six barracks considered surplus to military requirements. The barracks in question are located at Ballincollig, Fermoy, Castleblayney, Naas, Kildare and Clancy Barracks, Dublin.
The sale of approximately 91 acres comprising lot 1, Murphy Barracks, Ballincollig, to O'Flynn Construction for €41 million has now been completed. In addition, the sale of lot 2 to the sitting tenant for €1.05 million – my Department's reversionary interest in approximately 6.2 acres of the barrack lands – has now been completed. A further area comprising more than 27 acres at Murphy Barracks will be handed over to Cork County Council for community use.
A total of 19.218 acres at the former Fitzgerald Camp, Fermoy, were sold to Cork County Council in 2001 for €973,889 for development in conjunction with the IDA. Castleblayney Military Post, Monaghan, comprising approximately ten acres, was sold to the North Eastern Health Board for €761,843. Seven acres at Devoy Barracks, Naas, County Kildare were ceded free of charge to Naas Urban District Council, while a further 14 acres were sold to that authority for €8,888,167. The balance of the barracks lands – one acre – was sold to Kildare County Council for €380,921.
Magee Barracks, Kildare, comprises an area of 65 acres. At present approximately 15 acres of the property are being used by the Reception and Integration Agency of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to accommodate asylum seekers and a further site comprising approximately one acre is being used by Kildare County Council as a temporary halting site for 20 persons. On 1 July 2003, the Government decided to release this property to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government for inclusion in a new affordable housing initiative agreed under the national partnership agreement, Sustaining Progress.
My Department has accepted an offer from Florence Properties Limited for the sale of Clancy Barracks, Dublin, comprising approximately 13.65 acres. It is hoped to have a contract of sale completed shortly. Pending the signing of the contract of sale, it would not be appropriate to comment on details of the sale.
The security, maintenance, consultancy and other costs to date in respect of those barracks identified for closure in 1998 are as follows:
|
Security€ |
Maintenance & Other Costs€ |
|
|
Murphy Barracks, Ballincollig* |
1,451,418 |
257,113† |
|
Fitzgerald Camp, Fermoy* |
330,813 |
42,633 |
|
Castleblayney Military Post* |
131,289 |
10,548 |
|
Devoy Barracks, Naas* |
472,654 |
16,959 |
|
Magee Barracks, Kildare* |
123,291 |
15,677 |
|
Clancy Barracks, Dublin |
564,065 |
161,405 |
*Now sold or no longer in the administration of my Department (no further costs will be incurred by the Department of Defence).
†Includes costs relating to the integrated area action plan.
On military security duty allowances alone, it is estimated that savings to date amount to over €2.2 million in respect of the six barracks closed. In addition, there have been significant savings on utility costs such as telephone, gas, and electricity charges at each of the evacuated barracks which would have amounted to approximately €349,000 in the case of Murphy Barracks.
In addition, since the Government decision in July 1998, agreements were reached for the sale of 6.39 acres, known as Susan's field, adjoining Collins Barracks, Cork, to Cork City Council for €1.523 million in 2002 and approximately 3.4 acres at Sarsfield Barracks, Limerick were disposed of to Limerick City Council for €1.162 million.
The sale of a site comprising approximately 0.931 acres adjacent to my Department's FCA premises in Kanturk, County Cork, to the Southern Health Board for a consideration of €178,000 was completed earlier this year. The sale of approximately 1.559 acres at Waterford Barracks to Waterford City Council for €662,000 is likely to be completed by end year.
Ballyconnell Town Hall is being sold to Cavan County Council for €127,000. Twenty acres of the Curragh lands are being sold to Kildare County Council for €273,000 to assist with the construction of the Kildare bypass. One hundred married quarters at Orchard Park, Curragh, County Kildare and 12 quarters at Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin are being sold to residents. Sales to date have realised €3.02 million. Total sales are expected to realise approximately €4 million approximately.
Approximately ten acres of land at Renmore, Galway are being sold to Galway City Council for € 250,316. Approximately 1.07 acres at Arbour Hill are being transferred to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform for a consideration of €3.174 million. Disposal of a number of other minor surplus properties owned by my Department has also been completed. I have no plans to close any further barracks.
Questions Nos. 170 and 171 answered with Question No. 129.