On Wednesday of this week, 12 September, the Columb Barracks property in Mullingar, which was publicly for sale since last year, will be officially transferred by the Government from the Department of Defence to the National Regeneration and Development Agency estab- lished last February, and the lands attached to the former military barracks are expected to be used for affordable housing purposes.
Since the former barracks was first offered for sale, serious doubts have hung over the future of the various Mullingar community organisations, which have for several years, been using the buildings in the complex, on a short term basis, including the GAA, Mullingar Wheelers and in all about twenty local groups. There are now hopes that some new arrangement can be reached with the N.R.D.A., which would allow the buildings to continue being used for the benefit of these community organisations and clubs.
The National Regeneration and Development Agency was set up to ringfence public lands for affordable housing, and provide a more effective approach to strategic land management. Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy recently announced an investment of €2 billion for urban regeneration and development purposes, focusing on cities and towns with in excess of 10,000 population, like Mullingar.
In early 2017, upwards of 24 acres of lands attached to Columb Barracks were identified as one of the publicly owned sites suitable for housing development.
Deputy Peter Burke told Topic this week that the new national agency now taking over the Mullingar barracks property was a state body, and the Government decision would be made on this Wednesday, 12 September.
“Then I would imagine that the talks process will open with regards what land is available to develop and what will happen to the listed buildings. We would like to see a nice project done with them, so it is a bit early yet for any details about plans for the barracks,” he said.
SITES OF SIGNIFICANCE
“Columb Barracks is identified as one of those sites of significance countrywide, that could add to our housing stock, so I’d imagine one of the critical things is that they are trying to increase the supply of houses and the barracks has a lot of land that is potentially available for housing. It depends on what the terms of this new agency are and some of the land may be able to used for the community because I know Westmeath GAA use some of it at present,” he said.
“This is is one of those things that have been mooted for a while. The Department of Housing has been looking at sites around the country and there were discussions with the Department of Defence. I understand that a number of sites are being transferred from the Department of Defence. The Government will make a decision tomorrow but the details have to be worked out,” he added.
Deputy Burke said he would hope a museum can be established in the Barracks, and also if the project can accommodate some of the clubs and community groups that are using the barracks as well. ’There’s a lot of details to be worked out,” he added.
Cllr Bill Collentine, Mayor of Mullingar Municipal District, described the handover as “great news for the people of Mullingar that Columb Barracks has been saved from being sold off. It’s also good that Westmeath County Council is involved in the regeneration of our very valuable landmark property, which has serious history attached to it.
“The former barracks will now be in the National Regeneration and Development Agency – a government body. It is at the early stages but at least it’s saved and we can get a chance to preserve and keep our history of Mullingar. It’s a very positive step. We came close to losing it. Now is our chance to get it back up and running and have it there for the community,” he said.
Cllr. Andrew Duncan, who had a motion at Monday’s Council meeting, seeking a feasibility study on the future of the barracks, said his priority at present is seeking to ensure the future of the organisations currently occupying buildings at Columb Barracks.
OTHER LOCAL
PROPERTIES
Cllr. Mick Dollard said he first heard this mentioned by Martin Murray, Director of Services, on Monday. It’s in the ownership of the Government and we have just come out of a recession and when you see this new agency taking over from NAMA, that should be welcomed as positive. There are a lot of other state-owned properties around Mullingar that are going to be put into a similar situation also. I was in the Army at the barracks and my late father spent over 40 years there, so it is very, very close to my heart.
“You have to look at the land that Irish Rail have. With my prompting, the Director of Services for housing has been in touch with Irish Rail and there’s a possibility that a housing development will take place. You also have to look at St. Loman’s and what is the future there.
“It is good to hear something positive about the barracks.”
Cllr. Dollard said the ONE Memorial outside the Barracks should be relocated inside, to protect it, as it is being vandalised at the moment,” he said.
In 2017, Defence Minister Kehoe in indicating the disposal of the property by public auction, told Deputy Robert Troy in the Dáil that his Department had explored various avenues to secure the long-term future of the barracks for the benefit of the local community. At the time, Westmeath Co. Council, which had been several times invited to declare an interest, confirmed that it did not have any interest in acquiring the property. The Department of Education and Skills had made no approach either.
This week, however, Westmeath County Council officials told members about the new agency, and indicated that discussions were taking place about regeneration of the barracks.
The Council intends to apply for funding under some of the new regeneration measures which are part of the National Planning Framework and Development Plan.
The new National Regeneration and Development Agency is intended to be the driving force for major social housing projects into the future and the Housing Minister is expected to identify a list of the high profile sites to be released for housing – and it is thought the lands available at Columb Barracks will be on that list. The Government may then team up with builders to develop housing units without delay on these sites.
