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Seanad Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 28 May 2003

Vol. 173 No. 5

Adjournment Matters. - Army Barracks.

I wish to share time with Senator Paddy Burke.

An Leas-Chathaoirleach

Is that agreed? Agreed.

The failure of the Minister for Defence and his Department to release the necessary funding for the refurbishment of the military barracks at Castlebar, County Mayo, has caused major disappointment among the military personnel there, particularly those committed 680 members of the Reserve Defence Force of the 18th Battalion and Companies A, B, C and D and the 5th Motor Battalion. They are disappointed that their loyalty, service and commitment is being disregarded. They are dismayed that because of a failure to release the necessary funding to carry out the required electrical work at the barracks, the annual summer training camp cannot now take place. Five one week camps and one camp for non-commissioned officers will be moved out of Castlebar to other centres such as Mullingar.

I am sure the Minister will agree that the 18th Battalion is one of the finest in the country. It has acquitted itself well and proudly. Its members' FCA experience, and the fact they wear the FCA uniform, has provided the appetite for hundreds of them to apply for membership of the regular Army. I remind the House and the Minister that Private Billy Kedian, who was from my county and town, was the last member of the Irish Army to give his life on active duty in the Lebanon. The Minister attended his funeral in Ballyhaunis. His appetite to become a member of the Permanent Defence Force was whetted and nurtured by his service in the FCA.

The Mayo members of the Reserve Defence Force feel strongly that they are getting the thin edge of the wedge. Not only will the annual summer camp not take place in Mayo this year, but the 25th Galway Battalion and the 18th Mayo Battalion will be amalgamated, with an overall reduction in members from its current complement of 1,824 to 1,370. Some 310 of that reduction will take place at the expense of the 18th Mayo Battalion, thereby inflicting a double blow. I do not care about the financial constraints; this treatment is not good enough.

I ask the Minister for Defence to inspect and respect the contribution of the 18th Battalion. I want him to outline in his reply the estimated cost of the necessary refurbishment at Castlebar. I want him to issue an order to his Department to immediately release the funding to enable the necessary work to start immediately. Castlebar should be properly refurbished and become the headquarters of the Reserve Defence Force in the west instead of what seems to be a calculated decision to take it out of commission completely.

I thank Senator Higgins for sharing time and for clearly outlining the case at issue here.

The people of Castlebar are dismayed that the summer camp will not proceed. In reply to a parliamentary question by Deputy McGinley, the Minister said that even if the kitchen renovations were not completed in time, there would not be any question of the members of the Reserve Defence Force not being able to attend annual camp, as arrangements would be made to facilitate personnel at other locations. That suggests that every effort will not be made to locate the camp at Castlebar, as has been the case in recent years. The Minister has given himself a way out by suggesting that the camp will be located in other areas. People are also disappointed by the fact that is the first shot in the campaign to downgrade Castlebar Army barracks.

I hope that the Minister will outline that the summer camp will go ahead as planned, that the barracks will not be downgraded, that the personnel allocated to Castlebar will continue to serve there and that the barracks will be enhanced.

I welcome the opportunity to outline the position regarding the FCA summer camps at Castlebar barracks.

It is not my intention to close any Reserve Defence Force facility. A number of works were carried out at Castlebar barracks in 2002. These included the re-roofing of the dining hall at a cost of €37,000 and the upgrading of the dining hall and other areas at a cost of €73,000. These upgrading works included the installation of fire alarms, ceiling repairs, electrical rewiring, heating, fire doors, shower, ablutions in the billet block and tarmacadam. In addition, local services contracts to service routine maintenance works were completed at a cost of €84,000 which covered windows, doors, gutters, painting and decorating.

The resources I have provided for the Reserve have dramatically improved and I also ensured that the clothing and rifle issues were addressed. There is no doubt that the Government has upgraded the Reserve's facilities in every way possible.

The electrical rewiring within the sleeping accommodation is in need of upgrading. As safety is paramount, it has been decided by the military authorities that the sleeping billets will, therefore, not be available for use this summer. Renovations are also necessary to upgrade kitchen facilities to meet health and safety requirements. Fair-minded people will accept that it will not be possible to have this work completed in time for summer camp.

Senators Higgins and Paddy Burke are realistic and they will know that this work cannot be completed by June. We must go through the normal tender process and hire a contractor and we will not be able to do so in time. The cost of hiring temporary accommodation, ablution facilities and kitchen facilities to hold summer camps in Castlebar barracks this year is estimated at €140,000. It will also be appreciated that a value for money issue arises for consideration.

The only alternative, therefore, is to provide for this year's annual training, which would normally take place in Castlebar, at another location. Accordingly, the necessary arrangements will be made to facilitate personnel at Columb barracks, Mullingar, where accommodation and training facilities are of the highest standard.

I will not accept a reduction in the numbers serving in the Reserve Defence Force in Mayo. I have always emphasised the geographical spread of the force, its voluntary ethos and the commitment of its members. I will not allow a situation to arise where such commitment is ignored in the context of the reorganisation process. However, that process must take place. We have a three brigade Defence Force and we must move on. The force must also be trained to a much higher standard so that people in the Reserve will have the opportunity to serve overseas. A dramatic change will take place in terms of upgrading, but the people of Mayo can be assured that I have not agreed to a proposal to reduce numbers. I will ensure a fair spread of members throughout the State, particularly in areas that have served us well in the past. Their needs will never be ignored.

I thank the Minister for his reply and his assurance that he will not countenance a reduction in Reserve Defence Force members in Mayo. The work to be carried out will cost €140,000 and will not be completed in time for camp in three or four weeks. Does he anticipate the contract will go to tender before the end of the year with a view to having the work completed before next year's summer camp?

I have given instructions that the work should be undertaken as speedily as possible. However, the sum of €140,000 that I mentioned relates to the temporary accommodation that would be required if the summer camp was to be held in Castlebar, which would be a waste of money. It would be better to make arrangements for Mullingar and use that money to improve the permanent accommodation in Castlebar. I do not know the full cost for the other work, but it will proceed through the normal process.

The Seanad adjourned at 9.45 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 29 May 2003.

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