Barracks jobs fears raised

The Minister for Defence Alan Shatter has said discussions are ongoing on the planned abolition of one of the country's three Defence Forces brigades, amid growing fears this week that Athlone's Custume Barracks will be singled out for the loss of brigade headquarters status. The remarks come as rumours intensify that up to 500 Defence Force members based in Athlone could be redeployed elsewhere, if Custume Barracks loses its status as 4th Western Brigade headquarters. The Government announced last year that it would be moving to a two-brigade structure, meaning the loss of brigade HQ status in either Athlone; Dublin (2nd Eastern Brigade); or Cork (1st Southern Brigade). During a visit to Athlone on Monday, Minister Shatter indicated that there was no possibility the Athlone barracks would close, but he refused to be drawn on the outcome of the brigade reshuffle. "There's a process of reorganisation now under discussion in which both the secretary general of my department, the chief of staff, and those who work with both of them, are engaged," said the Minister. "I'm not going to pre-empt those discussions that are taking place." He said he would be presented with "a proposed reorganised framework for the Defence Forces," once the discussion process concluded. The implications for local Army personnel if the 4th Western Brigade is scrapped are not yet clear. However, there is increasing concern in army and political circles at the implications of the loss of brigade headquarter status. One councillor feared this week that it could result in the redeployment of up to 500 members of the Defence Forces to barracks in other parts of the country. Athlone Fianna Fáil councillor Aengus O'Rourke said he had been in contact with senior members of the army and the civil service this week, and the information he received about the future of the town's brigade headquarters status was extremely ominous. "One of the three brigade headquarters will be lost, and it would appear that it will be Athlone," said Cllr O'Rourke. "I think we're facing into a post-treaty nightmare in Athlone. It looks as if the paperwork on this has been signed off and it will be announced after the treaty referendum has concluded, in June. "As I understand it, Custume Barracks is the oldest working barracks in Europe. We defended this barracks against the might of the British forces but now it would seem that we're losing it to our own." Cllr O'Rourke said the information he had received was that Army engineers, signal, medical corps, ordinance corps, training depot, military police and 4th cavalry squadron personnel could be redeployed from Athlone to other barracks such as The Curragh, Cathal Brugha and Cork. "That would amount to approximately 500 personnel. It's absolutely frightening - it would be the equivalent of losing Alkermes (formerly Elan)," he said. "It would have an impact not only economically but also on the social make-up of the town." Raising the issue in the Dáil on Thursday, Deputy Denis Naughten said there was "much concern in Custume Barracks about the proposed two brigade structure," and the possible redeployment of troops as a result.