Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:89 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Defence if it is proposed to sell lands or buildings under his control in the remainder of 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6734/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 1 March 2005
Ceisteanna (40, 41, 42)
Trevor Sargent
Ceist:127 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Defence his plans for the part development or sale of Cathal Brugha Barracks in Rathmines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6756/05]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:393 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the total receipts to date from the sale of military installations closed in 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6935/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 89, 127, and 393 together.
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 were located at Ballincollig, Fermoy, Castleblayney, Naas, Kildare and Clancy Barracks, Dublin.
The sale of 97 acres approximately at Murphy Barracks, Ballincollig was completed in 2003 for a total of €42 million. The bulk of the lands was purchased by O'Flynn Construction. The sale of a site comprising c. 2.7 acres to the Southern Heath Board for €1.73 million was completed in December last. A further area comprising approximately 27 acres at Murphy Barracks is being handed over to Cork County Council for community use. Agreement has also been reached for the sale of a site c. 1.7 acres to the Department of Education and Science for approximately €1.1 million. A half acre site has been set aside on foot of a request from the Office of Public Works, OPW, for a plot of ground to facilitate extension of the existing Garda station located on Main Street, Ballincollig. My Department is in correspondence with the OPW on arrangements for transfer of the lands concerned, including the matter of a consideration therefor.
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 IDA Ireland. Castleblayney Military Post, County Monaghan, comprising c. 10 acres, was sold to the North Eastern Health Board for €761,843 in 2002. A total of 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 in 2002. Clancy Barracks, Dublin, comprising 13.65 acres approximately, was sold to Florence Properties Limited for €25.4 million in 2004. The disposal of a number of other minor properties which were surplus to requirements was also completed during this period.
The Government decided in July 2003 that Magee Barracks, Kildare, and Gormanston Camp, County Meath, would be among the State lands released for inclusion in the Sustaining Progress affordable housing initiative. The modalities of the transfer of these properties, as well as sites at St. Bricins Hospital, Dublin and at Collins Barracks, Cork, to the relevant local authorities are under active consideration in consultation with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Chief State Solicitor's office.
The value of sales-disposals completed since 1998 has totalled in the region of €90 million. There are no plans for the part development or sale of Cathal Brugha Barracks in Rathmines. The Department's property portfolio is, however, kept under continual review and any properties surplus to military requirements will be disposed of to fund much needed investment to meet the equipment and infrastructure needs of the Defence Forces.
Question No. 90 answered with QuestionNo. 82.