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Defence Forces Press Office Statement 15 October 2008
In accordance with the Government decision announced yesterday five military installations will close in order to rationalise our property portfolio, cut costs and continue the process of modernisation of the Defence Forces. The four barracks/posts will close by 31 January 2009 and St. Bricin’s Military Hospital at a later date. All of the personnel affected will be re-deployed to other barracks. The total number of personnel is approx. 650 military plus 40 civilian personnel.
Commenting on this decision, Defence Forces Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Dermot Earley said: “The Defence Forces, like every other state organisation, is not immune to the current financial situation. While the closure and relocation may come as a disappointment to some of the personnel involved, there are no job losses. We have previous experience with the closure of barracks’ in the late 1990’s and we intend to follow the procedures which worked well on that occasion. The financial savings and income from the sale of barracks was then re-invested in the Defence Forces and benefits of this modernisation are in effect today at home and overseas.”
The immediate cost saving will be in the maintenance, security and administration of these installations. It will also free up personnel who carry out these ‘housekeeping’ tasks in the five locations on a daily basis, leaving more personnel available for training and operations. Detailed planning for the closure of these installations and the relocation of personnel and services will now commence. Lieutenant General Earley will visit each barracks/post as soon as possible to meet with the military personnel.
It is intended that personnel and the services they provide will move to the following locations:
| Barracks/Installation | Move to | 1 | Rockhill Military Post, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal (28 Infantry Battalion) 135 personnel (approx) | Finner Camp, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal | 2 | Lifford Military Post, Lifford, Co. Donegal (28 Infantry Battalion) 123 personnel (approx) | 3 | Connolly Barracks, Longford (4 Cavalry Squadron) 130 personnel (approx) | Custume Barracks, Athlone, Co. Westmeath. | 4 | Military Barracks, Monaghan (27 Infantry Battalion) 200 personnel (approx) | Aiken Barracks, Dundalk, Co. Louth. | 5 | St. Bricin’s Military Hospital, Dublin 7. 46 medical personnel (approx) Planning date for closure is yet to be decided. | Military Medical Facility, Defence Forces Training Centre, Curragh, Co. Kildare |
ENDS.
Gavin Young Commandant Defence Forces Press Officer Defence Forces HQ, Infirmary Road, Dublin 7 p: +353 1 8042687 / f: +353 1 6779018
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www.military.ie
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