Economic report to gauge impact of barracks downgrading

A report is to be drawn up within days to lay bare the economic and social impact any potential downgrade of Custume Barracks would have on Athlone. At a public meeting on Monday last, called by Cllr Frankie Keena (FF) to address heightening fears that the local barracks will lose its brigade status, and over 600 staff would be redeployed elsewhere as a result, politicians from all sides agreed to come together to ensure the 4th Western Brigade is retained in Athlone and to push for an immediate meeting with Taoiseach Enda Kenny on the matter. A submission report setting out clear facts and figures about the potential repercussions any change in the barracks status would have on the town was identified by many speakers on the night as paramount to any public campaign to convince Government that Custume Barracks should be kept in its current form. Earlier this year, Minister for Defence Alan Shatter announced that a report was being drawn up in relation to the reorganisation of the Defence Forces and that the number of brigades would be reduced from three down to two, prompting local fears that the 4th Western Brigade could lose out to Dublin and Cork. Speaking before a smaller than expected crowd on Monday, estimated to be around the 100 mark, John McGrath, President of Athlone Chamber said starkly that to lose 600 posts from Athlone would have a huge impact on the town and remove roughly €24 million in wage packets from the area. In all, Cllr Frankie Keena said the current army payroll amounts to €63 million annually with another €7 million spent on local contracts and services. Any loss of that would mean a huge hit to local businesses and traders, he predicted. Aside from the economic impact though, Mr McGrath claimed there would also be a huge social impact to be paid as the people and families would be lost to town, and sports clubs, societies and community life would be hugely damaged as a result. In this way, the situation would be worse than job losses as the resource of the people would be gone from Athlone, he claimed. Prefacing his remarks by stressing that no one knows what is in the latest plan and it is important not to scaremonger on the issue, Mr McGrath did make reference to a 1994 Price Waterhouse Coopers report on how the army could become more efficient which suggested a two brigade structure was the way forward, however, no specific geographical areas were identified for the two brigades in the publication. Stressing the importance of the need to get a meeting with Taoiseach Enda Kenny on the issue, the Athlone Chamber President confirmed that the business organisation is currently compiling a report on the economic and social impact any change to barracks status will have on the town. "Our plan is to get the report done and have facts and figures. It has been commissioned and we should have it in days rather than weeks," he told the meeting, calling for any army expertise or suggestions on what should be included to come forward to Athlone Chamber as soon as possible. * If anyone has any ideas or suggestions in relation to the drawing up of a submission to lay bare the impact of any downgrade of Custume Barracks they can email Cllr Frankie Keena frankiekeena@gmail.com or John McGrath in Athlone Chamber johnmcg@mmkda.com