Department's guns continue to remain silent over former Tipperary military barracks

The Department of Defence has not responded to the latest correspondence on Nenagh’s Military Barracks, Nenagh councillors have been told.

The issue had been raised by Cllr Seamus Morris at Nenagh MDC, who told the meeting that the site had yet to be cleared up.
District administrator Rosemary Joyce told Cllr Morris that the council had contacted the Department but they had not replied.

“You’ve done your best,” Cllr Morris told Ms Joyce. “It is now time to get on to our TDs.”

He said that the town was being ignored by the Department and that the people living in that area “deserve better”.

The Independent councillor warned that the barracks “will decide to fall some day and children will be hurt”.

Following the last month’s meeting, Cllr Morris asked Sen Mark Daly, leas-Chathaoirleach of the Seanad if he could send a request to the Department of Defence if they would meet with Nenagh Municipal District to discuss the future of the military barracks.

Cllr Morris said that he would like to discuss the outcome of the recent title search of the site, the need for a safety survey to be carried out on the barracks and surrounding buildings and the need for a maintenance plan to be put in place for the site while it is in the hands of the Department.

“The site has become overgrown and dangerous and there is dereliction on the site and the Municipal District may need to go down the dereliction route,” said Cllr Morris.

Meanwhile, Deputy Alan Kelly has released two Parliamentary Questions he put to the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence last April.

He had asked the reason his Department will not carry out a survey on the current condition of the Military Barracks at Summerhill in Nenagh following a request to do same; and the reason this will not be facilitated.

He further asked if the Tánaiste and Minister will carry out a survey on the current condition of the Military Barracks at Summerhill, Nenagh, following confirmation that it is now his Department that owns the property.

In a written reply, Deputy Kelly was told: “My Department has not received any formal request to carry out a survey on the condition of the military barracks in Nenagh.

"As I have previously stated, officials from my Department wrote to Tipperary County Council offering to transfer the property in question for a nominal sum, having regard to its central location in Nenagh and its historical ties to the town.

"However, the Council declined the offer.

"My officials are available to discuss the matter further with Tipperary County Council as the initial offer to transfer the property to them still stands.”