Army numbers double in the past two years

The number of army personnel based at Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa in Renmore has almost doubled since the announcement of a reorganisation of the Permanent Defence Force in 2012.

According to figures obtained by local Fine Gael TD Brian Walsh, the number of personnel located at the barracks has increased by 88% since the reorganisation, which saw the closure of four barracks elsewhere around the country.

An additional 211 personnel are now located at Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa following the implementation of the reorganisation plan.

A total of 450 were based at the barracks at the end of February, compared to 239 at the end of November 2012.

Deputy Walsh said the figures were a welcome boost for the area and had proven scaremongering at the time of the reorganisation, which suggested the barracks would be downgraded, to be false.

“The reorganisation of the Permanent Defence Force provided for the consolidation of three existing brigades into two larger brigades, as well as the closure of four barracks around the country,” he said.

“At the time, there was a lot of scaremongering by local politicians about plans to downgrade and close Renmore Barracks, which was false and needlessly distressing for staff and their families.

“I was assured by the Minister for Defence at every juncture that Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa would remain central to plans for the reorganisation of the Defence Force, and I am pleased that these figures reaffirm that this was the case,” he added.

“The fact that its strength has been increased by 88% is a significant vote of confidence in the base and is a considerable boost for the area. It is the country’s only Irish-speaking battalion and it will always remain central to the reconsolidated Defence Forces.

“If a multinational company had said in 2012 that it was bringing over 200 jobs to the Renmore area over the next three years, it would rightly have been heralded as an enormous bonus here.

“This is no different. It has brought significant benefits to Galway and to Renmore, and will continue to benefit the area as it develops and grows in the coming years,” said Deputy Walsh.