Athlone Town Councillor Paul Hogan has demanded clarity from the Fine Gael Minister for Defence regarding the future of Custume Barracks. The request comes in light of the confirmation that the Fine Gael-led administration will cut the brigade structure from three to two.
Cllr Hogan said he had brought this issue up at recent town council meetings. “ I had received information regarding the future of the barracks but the numbers simply did not add up.”
“The Defence Forces Command Structure is based on the British model. They require approximately 5,000 personnel per brigade. The current level of Defence Forces personnel is approximately 9,500,” said Cllr Hogan.
“The people of this constituency elected two Fine Gael TDs at the last election, and I believe it is their duty to ensure that public services such as the Defence Forces are retained.
“I am calling on Deputy McFadden to vote against any proposal to downgrade or reduce the service currently being provided at Custume Barracks. Deputy Bannon must also vote against given the fact that personnel from Connolly Barracks in Longford and Columb Barracks in Mullingar were relocated to Athlone,” he added.
