Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

[Deputy Ciarán Lynch.]
Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers
will be forthcoming in a criminal injuries board appeal by a person (details supplied) in County
Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8486/12]
Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Alan Shatter): I wish to advise the Deputy that
the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal, which has responsibility for the administration
of the Scheme of Compensation for Personal Injuries Criminally Inflicted on Prison Officers,
is independent in the matter of individual applications under the Scheme. However, to be of
assistance to the Deputy I have had enquiries made with the Tribunal.
I understand that the application referred to by the Deputy is the subject of an appeal by the
applicant. The grounds for appeal were forwarded to the Tribunal by the applicant’s solicitor on
16 January 2012.
I further understand that the applicant’s case for appeal will be placed in chronological order
with other appeal cases to be heard by the Tribunal and that a hearing is expected to proceed
during the second half of this year.
Army Barracks
542. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn
to the fact that the Department of Defence is seeking to rent a premises in Cavan town to
accommodate Reserve Defence Force training when there is a perfectly feasible army barracks
in the town that is earmarked for closure and sale; if he will provide a cost-benefit analysis of
renting a premises in Cavan town while simultaneously closing the barracks which is currently
in Department ownership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8205/12]
553. Deputy Jonathan O’Brien asked the Minister for Defence the reason he is seeking to
rent a premises in Cavan town to accommodate Reserve Defence Force training; the reasons
they will not use the army barracks in Cavan town that is earmarked for closure and sale; the
length of time for which his Department wishes to rent such a premises; the details of the
tender and contract process; the details of a cost benefit analysis of renting a premises in Cavan
town while simultaneously closing the barracks that is currently in Department of Defence
ownership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8243/12]
Minister for Defence (Deputy Alan Shatter): I propose to take Questions Nos. 542 and
553 together.
Following the Government’s decision to further consolidate Defence Forces personnel into
fewer locations, four military barracks — Clonmel, Cavan, Mullingar and Castlebar — will
close on 30 March 2012. 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 p.a. In addition, there will be direct cash savings of approximately
€1.3m arising from utilities, maintenance and security duties allowances in the four barracks.
The Reserve Defence Force in each barracks will be provided with alternative rented accommodation
prior to the closure of the barracks. This is a normal arrangement for Reserve Units
in other locations around the country and consistent with how the previous Government dealt
with the matter. The Department has 10 permanent rentals and 30 part time rentals in place
including part time use of parish and community halls as well as some commercial premises.
The total annual cost is less than €100,000 for all forty premises.
On this basis, it is simply absurd to contend that there is an economic argument for keeping
a full barracks open to cater for a Reserve Unit that may only train for a few hours once or
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