Role of Custume Barracks must be strengthened, Minister told

Defence Minister Simon Coveney has been urged to "strengthen the role of Custume Barracks in Athlone" by reinstating a brigade headquarters or taking other action to bolster its status within the Defence Forces.

The issue was raised by Longford Senator Micheál Carrigy on Tuesday, when Minister Coveney took part in a Seanad debate on the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020.

Senator Carrigy pointed out that Columb Barracks in Mullingar and Seán Connolly Barracks in Longford had both been closed, and said there was "a fear" locally in relation to the future status of Custume Barracks.

The Athlone facility had been the headquarters of the 4th Western Brigade, the State's third military brigade, until that brigade was dissolved as part of a restructuring of the Defence Forces in 2012.

"I come from Ballinalee, which is the home of General Seán MacEoin. In 1922, General MacEoin took command of Custume Barracks in Athlone from the British and later went on to serve as Chief of Staff before entering political life and serving as Minister for Defence in the 1950s," said Senator Carrigy.

"It is important that this link is maintained and strengthened.

"I ask that the Department examine strengthening the role of Custume Barracks in Athlone and maintaining that strong link that goes back to the foundation stone of our State, be it in re-establishing the barracks as the third brigade in Athlone, relocating the brigade commander, perhaps from Cathal Brugha Barracks, or re-establishing non-commissioned officer training at the barracks.

"I ask the Minister to take back to the Department the message that the barracks be strengthened. There is a fear in this regard and I ask that the matter be looked at."

The Fine Gael Senator added that there were "a number of issues in the Defence Forces" at present, one of which was pay and remuneration for personnel.

"We need to make the forces more attractive so that young people making a decision on a future career will have a long-term career available to them," he said.

Responding, on the topic of Custume Barracks, Minister Coveney said his Department would continue to invest in it.

"(Custume Barracks) in Athlone is a fantastic facility and I can promise we will continue investing there.

"It is a very strategic part of our Defence Forces infrastructure, as Senator Carrigy knows. It has very strong advocates, and we hear them," said the Minister.