asked the Minister for Defence if progress has been made in planning the new military complex announced by him in January, 1972.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Military Complex Plan.
84.
The work involved in planning a new military barracks is proceedings but I do not anticipate early developments in the matter.
Where is the site?
Sites are being looked at.
It is a top secret.
Indeed, it is not. Plans are in hand for the erection of a new military barracks and that will entail the disposal of existing properties.
As this is a most serious matter from the point of view of the Army, will the Minister give an opportunity to the House of discussing the implications of this change in detail because military property is of tremendous value?
I am well aware of the value of the properties. One could hardly over-estimate it.
Has the Minister had them valued?
Not recently.
When were they last valued?
I have not got that date.
Would it not be a good idea to have an up-to-date valuation?
Indeed, it would.
What is the total value of the military property in the Dublin area?
It would be several millions.
How many?
I could not say.
This is the first time I heard that this decision had been taken and could the Minister say if considerations leading to the decision to sell some of the existing properties were military considerations or commercial considerations?
So far they have been military. Of course, the commercial value of the properties must be assessed as well.