DEFENCE FORCES:THE CLOSURE of Connolly Barracks in Longford will not have the feared detrimental impact on the local economy, Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea has said.
He made his comments after meeting local representatives from Longford in Dublin yesterday following a protest outside Leinster House about the closure of the barracks.
Between 100 and 150 protestors, mostly the partners and children of serving personnel, turned out for the lunchtime rally.
It has emerged that troops being transferred from five military barracks earmarked for closure next year will receive financial compensation by way of mileage and subsistence allowances.
Following yesterday's protest against the closure of Connolly Barracks, Mr O'Dea met Fianna Fáil councillors from Longford town and later Longford county mayor Séamus Farrell and Longford town mayor James Keogh.
Mr O'Dea said that he listened carefully to the representatives and sought to assure them that "the closure of the barracks would not have the detrimental impact on the economy of Longford as feared locally".
While he understood the "sadness" caused by news of the closure, the ending of the Troubles negated the rationale for maintaining seven barracks near the Border.
Under the closures announced on Budget day, the seven Border barracks are being consolidated to three and St Bricin's military hospital in Dublin is being relocated to the Curragh, Co Kildare.
Mr O'Dea said the closure, or "consolidation", plan had been put together by his officials in close consultation with Defence Forces management.
"It ensures that there will be no job losses and provides an overall package to alleviate any difficulties that local Defence Forces members or civilians might experience," Mr O'Dea said.
Under the financial package the travel expenses, including public transport or mileage, of transferred troops will be paid for by the Defence Forces. The money will be paid for a period up to 15 months.
Some personnel will also be entitled to allowances to find accommodation immediately after relocation. There were also allowances for personnel forced to leave their families in another part of the country for the duration of their working week.
However, sources said that the expenses would not be paid indefinitely.
"They are designed to make it easier for people during the period that they are first transferred," said one source.
Mr O'Dea said the buoyant economy in 2005 meant he could retain a large number of barracks at that time. But the current economic situation meant that this was no longer possible.
A number of protesters at yesterday's rally said that businesses in Longford would lose money and that soldiers would now need to travel the 80km round trip to Athlone where they are being moved to. Irene Brady said that the first she and her husband heard of his transfer was on the television on Budget day.
"A lot of people with children will eventually be forced to relocate to Athlone," Ms Brady said.
As well as Longford and St Bricin's, the other facilities earmarked for closure are Letterkenny, Lifford and Monaghan.
The closures are planned from next January. Any money realised from the sale of the properties will be re-invested in the Defence Forces.
However, Mr O'Dea has already said the poor state of the property market meant that selling the assets may take some time.
