Sir, - There was a time, in our not too distant and impecunious past, when government departments offered property in State control - which was no longer required - to other departments before disposing of it. This was not only considered financially prudent but good stewardship in the interest of the citizens of the State. Such property was viewed as having other than market value. Not so any longer, apparently.
The proposed sale of Clancy Barracks in Islandbridge appears to be geared to maximise the profit for the Exchequer, at a time when the State coffers are cashed-wrapped, rather than cash-strapped. The Department of Defence recently invited estate agents to tender for the contract to manage the sale. Your property writers speculated that the location was perfect for yet more apartments and offices. It is, of course a prime site, being close to the city centre and beside Houston Station. It is, thus, ripe for speculation. But is that really the type of government we want? At the same time that this prize State asset is about to be turned into cash by the Department of Defence, other departments are crying out for suitable properties to house homeless children, asylum-seekers or psychiatric patients, for example. Such people are not the concern of the Department of Defence, unless of course they were to pose a threat to the State which, unfortunately, some misguided people think they do. That's why it is so difficult to get communities to agree to turn private property into public facilities.
If a health or social service function cannot be found for Clancy Barracks can I suggest perhaps a third level educational institution or museum. The latter was what the nearby Collins Barracks was converted to and a wonderful civic facility it is. But then, the decision to recycle Collins Barracks was taken at a time when we had more sense than money. - Yours, etc.,
Kieran McGrath, Editor, Irish Social Worker, Pearse Street, Dublin 2.