Return of Western Brigade raised in Dáil talks

The restoration of the 4th Western Brigade and the re-establishment of its headquarters in Custume Barracks, Athlone, is being discussed as part of Government formation talks.

Sources have confirmed the issue is on the table during the ongoing negotiations.

The inclusion of the objective to restore the brigade and its headquarters in any Programme for Government would be a significant boost for the Defence Forces in Athlone and for the future of Custume Barracks.

However, there is no clarity at this stage as to whether agreement will be reached on the issue, if it will be included in the Programme for Government, or indeed, if any Programme for Government will emerge from the lengthy talks.

The Irish Times reported on Friday that a proposal for the restoration of the 4th Western Brigade had been causing conflict between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail during the formation talks.

The report indicated that there had been tetchy exchanges between Fianna Fáil’s Jack Chambers, the party's defence spokesperson, and the Tanaiste Fine Gael deputy leader Simon Coveney on the issue.

Fianna Fail had included the return of the western brigade in its election manifesto, whilst Fine Gael in government had defended the decision to axe the brigade.

However, Westmeath TDs for both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have indicated they would like to see the return of the brigade, with its headquarters restored to Athlone, included in the Programme for Government.

Fianna Fail's Robert Troy told the Westmeath Independent on Monday that his party had committed to restoring the 4th Western Brigade in its election manifesto.

“It is something that we want to see happening,” he said.

Fine Gael TD Peter Burke also said he would be supportive of the proposal.

He said reports that appeared to indicate the issue was a stumbling block during talks had concerned him.

He said he had contacted the Fine Gael party chairman on Friday to press the case.

He also said both he and the party chairman had been in touch with the Tanaiste on the matter.

Meanwhile, Troy said the numbers of soldiers in Custume Barracks had been steadily dwindling and the return of the 4th Western Brigade would be positive for the Defence Forces.

He added: “It would be good too for the economic development of Athlone to have a strengthened Defence Forces there (in the barracks).”

“I would be hopeful that it would be included in the Programme for Government,” he told the Westmeath Independent.

Troy argued that the abolition of the 4th Western Brigade had also played a part in the issue of falling army numbers.

He said as well as the pay and conditions issue for soldiers, one of the factors driving the retention crisis in the Defence Forces was the lack of promotional prospects, which had not been helped by the abolition of the 4th Western Brigade.

Army personnel who wished to enhance their career prospects often had to leave the region or depart the Defence Forces.

“It has been a contributory factor in the retention crisis in the Defence Forces.”

The Athlone-based 4th Western Brigade was one of three brigades in the country’s Defence Forces until it was abolished in November 2012 by the Fine Gael/Labour coalition, under Defence Minister Alan Shatter.