Time to address the future of Military Barracks

Meeting held with Department of Defence and local representatives

Last week, a meeting took place in Dublin with the Department of Defence and local representatives of North Tipperary to discuss the future of Nenagh’s Military Barracks.

This meeting was attended by Labour TD Alan Kelly, Cllr Louise Morgan Walsh, Fianna Fáil TD Ryan O’Meara, members of Tipperary County Council and other local representatives.

“The meeting went through the options for the future of the site which is in a completely dilapidated state. It is a site that is left in a dangerous way should access be found by members of the public,” explained Deputy Alan Kelly to the Nenagh Guardian.

As pointed out by Deputy Kelly, the future of Nenagh’s Military Barracks has been an ongoing topic of discussion between elected officials and local representatives.

“This is a very central and valuable site in the centre of the town of Nenagh. Over the years I have constantly been raising the issue of this site with the Department of Defence and Tipperary County Council.

The department on numerous occasions told me they would give the site to the council, but they refused it as they wouldn’t be able to fund its maintenance or plan for its future. They are right to take such a stance,” said Alan Kelly.

According to Deputy Kelly, the department again said that they would be willing to hand over the site for a nominal fee during this meeting in Dublin last Tuesday.

“There are a number of issues that need to be sorted out before that can even be considered,” explained Alan Kelly.

According to the Tipperary TD, there needs to be a full title search on the lands owned to show who owns what on the site. The local council also needs to put forward a plan for the future of the site and funding needs to be allocated from the government.

“Before any handover happens, there has to be funding provided. The council can’t fund this. The Government have to,” stressed Deputy Kelly.

The Department of Defence made four main commitments at this meeting.

1) The department have agreed to provide those at the meeting with full titles for the lands as they understand them at present.

2) They agreed to survey the whole site and to make a report on the building’s conditions.

3) The department are to provide all documentation from engagements that they have had with other departments and state bodies regarding the site.

4) A submission will also be made to the Minister for Defence Simon Harris on future plans for the site and how that would be planned and financed.

Deputy Alan Kelly has stated that he intends to pursue this issue along with other local representatives to put pressure on the government to address the future of Nenagh’s Military Barracks.

“I will be working with the council; local public representatives and the Department of Defence to advance this after this meeting and ensuring pressure comes on the Government to deliver for Nenagh,” said Deputy Kelly.