Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2024
430. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the viability of the use of Cathal Brugha Barracks for residential development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16643/24]
View answerUnder the Housing for All strategy, all Government Departments were asked to examine their land portfolio to assess the suitability and potential of vacant or underutilised land for housing.
The potential of Cathal Brugha Barracks in Rathmines to be made available for housing has been raised on several occasions over recent years. The Barracks was identified in the Land Development Agency’s (LDA) Report on Relevant Public Lands published in March 2023, as a site which could yield up to 1,000 homes. The site's potential is identified within the report as 'Class 3', i.e. with numerous complex constraints, located within a conservation area and protected structures on site.
A process to comprehensively assess the potential and viability of the Cathal Brugha Barracks site for residential development was agreed between the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, the Department of Defence, and my Department to consider the viability of the relocation of the Barracks and its operations to repurpose the site as residential.
A cost benefit analysis and feasibility study was agreed to be carried out by the Department of Defence, with involvement from the Defence Forces, to assess the viability of relocating existing core Defence Forces operations/functions carried out within Cathal Brugha Barracks to an alternative location, as well as exploring the potential of reorganising/reconfiguring current operations/functions within the footprint of Cathal Brugha Barracks.
In parallel with this feasibility study, work was undertaken, led by the LDA, on an initial evaluation of the potential for the site to be repurposed for residential development and/or other uses, to create a new sustainable community considering the high level capacity and potential and a high level cost benefit analysis.
The outcomes of these two studies are being assessed and collated by a cross departmental working group and I understand that recommendations will be made to Government shortly.
