Fianna Fáil Defence Spokesperson Dara Calleary has said he is baffled that the Department of Defence is now looking for Army premises in Castlebar, Cavan, Mullingar, and Clonmel after announcing plans to shut down the barracks in each of these towns.
The barracks in these towns will shut on March 30 and military personnel at present occupied on security and support functions within these installations will be released for operational duties leading to an efficiency gain of around €5 million per annum.
The Reserve Defence Forces in each barracks will be provided with alternative rented accommodation prior to the closure of the barracks.
“This is just confirmation of the Government’s warped logic in shutting down key army facilities around the country,” said Deputy Calleary. “On the one hand, Minister Shatter has moved to close the barracks in Cavan, Mullingar, Clonmel and Castlebar while on the other, he is searching for another Army property in the same towns. People are struggling to see the logic in this.”
Deputy Calleary concluded: “The cost of these closures is far greater than any savings that can be achieved. This latest twist shows just how senseless the Government’s barracks closure policy is.”
