asked the Minister for Defence the military barracks, other premises or land held by the Defence Forces or his Department which it is intended to sell; the manner of the sale; the provision which is being made for the relocation of Defence Forces or his Department staff now working in these locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

(Limerick West): It is proposed that the following properties will be offered for sale by public tender:

(a) 6.28 acres of land at Fort Shannon, Tarbert, County Kerry.

(b) approximately 6 acres of land at Assumption Road, Cork.

(c) former FCA premises at Ballinalacken, County Clare.

There are no personnel employed by my Department at the above locations.

The accommodation occupied by the Defence Forces in Griffith Barracks and Nenagh Barracks, both of which are vested in the Minister for Finance, will be vacated as soon as possible and handed over to the Commissioners of Public Works.

The following properties have been deemed to be surplus to military requirements but no decision has yet been made as to the manner of their disposal:

Fort Camden, County Cork;

Fort Duncannon, County Wexford;

former military post, Manorhamilton, County Leitrim and

portion of Waterford Military Barracks.

In the process of selling these properties is the Minister giving any consideration to the potential social or community use the properties could be put to, particularly those in the metropolitan area?

(Limerick West): That will be considered and if the Deputy has any other proposals to put forward I will have them considered.

I am concerned about this because the process of sale by public tender could mean that such property will pass into private hands for further speculative use. Would the Minister not consider it more appropriate that property in the metropolitan area should be available for use for inner city housing and so on?

(Limerick West): Some of the establishments I referred to will be disposed of by the owners, the Office of Public Works. When the other property, which is mainly in rural areas, is being disposed of the suggestions put forward by the Deputy will be taken into consideration.

Does the Minister have a rough estimate of the value of the assets he is about to sell?

(Limerick West): I do not have that information with me but if the Deputy wants a specific valuation I will get it for him.

I was trying to get an overall figure of the asset value we are talking about so that we could have an idea of what we can expect from the sale.

(Limerick West): I do not have that information with me because it was not requested but if the Deputy is concerned about a specific barracks I will get the information for him.

I am concerned about the small portion of land at Ballyclough outside Limerick city which is used as a miniature rifle range by the Army. Has that been sold?

(Limerick West): A new rifle range has been constructed at Knockalisheen.

Will the land at Ballyclough be sold?

(Limerick West): Yes.