THE Donegal Steering
Committee Against Barrack Closures launched an
eleventh-hour bid yesterday to have the closure of
Rockhill and Lifford military posts reversed.
The committee said it believed it was not too late
to reverse the closure decision - due to be
implemented tomorrow. The group pointed out that the
associated costs of closure were now "even more
unjustifiable" in the context of the State's
budgetary deficit of €8 billion.
Group chairperson John Durran said the closure would
not make financial sense.
"The closure of the barracks will save a mere
€80,000 but will see costs of at least €10m expended
on change of station payments, temporary and
permanent building costs and securing the old posts.
"This is money that the State can ill afford
especially with the Government finances
deteriorating so rapidly. The decision to close
should be reversed – even at this late stage.
Furthermore, the decision to close has been taken
despite large amounts of money being spent on
upgrading facilities in both Rockhill and Lifford."
Mr Durran said his group was "bitterly disappointed"
that Donegal's most senior politician and Tánaiste,
Mary Coughlan, had failed to meet them.The want to
discuss with her an alternative plan to amalgamate
Rockhill and Lifford.
"This plan would have met the needs of the Army and
Donegal by ensuring that the €12m wage bill remained
in North County Donegal sustaining local businesses
in the current downturn," added Mr Durran.
"It is inevitable that some soldiers will lose their
jobs as they and their families could not possibly
sustain the monetary and physical cost of an
additional 500 miles per week when time at home with
their families is already limited due to overseas,
ceremonial and security duties," he added. Rockhill
and Lifford will close on Tuesday, January 27, 2009,
and all soldiers will be relocated to Finner Camp. |
