Decision on new Army headquarters location expected in ‘coming months’
A decision on the location for a new Army national headquarters is expected in the "coming months", Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris has confirmed.
Minister Harris provided the update during his Friday afternoon visit to Custume Barracks where he officially opened the new €1.4 million helicopter hangar for the Athlone-based air ambulance service.
The possibility of Athlone's Custume Barracks being the base of a new Army headquarters arose from the Commission on the Defence Forces report published in February 2022, which recommended the creation of a 'centrally-located' headquarters to manage Army operations nationally. The move would be a significant boost for the future of the barracks.
The recommendation was one of a number which involved significant changes in the command and control structures of the Defence Forces, including the creation of a new overall chief of defence, a new Defence Forces headquarters, and the development of service headquarters for the army, air corps and naval service.
Addressing the issue following the official opening of the hangar, Minister Harris stated the the location of a new Army headquarters had yet to be decided upon but was expected in the coming months.
"As a Government we are very determined to implement the recommendations of the Commission for the Defence Forces report. I have asked my officials to prepare a detailed implementation plan and provide an update in relation to the Commission which I am hoping to bring to Cabinet in the next number of months.
"I await the outcome of the process which is underway in relation to a decision regarding the Army headquarters. I don't have a specific timeline in this regard but I expect it will be in the coming months," Minister Harris said.
During a recent meeting of the Athlone-Moate Municipal District, Athlone Moate Municipal District Mayor Cllr Frankie Keena stated that efforts to have the Army's national headquarters located at Custume Barracks must be "re-energised".
"With a new Government now in place I feel it is essential that the issue is now re-energised and as a Council we stake our claim to having the Defence Forces headquarters permanently located at Custume Barracks. We now need to get this particular matter over the line," the Town Mayor stated.