The Dáil has been told that the potential savings of closing Mullingar, Clonmel, Cavan and Castlebar barracks will be €5 million a year.
Government Chief Whip Paul Kehoe, representing Minister for Defence Alan Shatter, said the move was not just about saving money but was about making the Defence Forces more efficient.
He said the Minister had met a number of delegations about finding an alternative use for the barracks.
Mr Kehoe said no personnel within the defence forces will lose their job because of the closures.
He said personnel will be briefed in the coming weeks by the Department of Defence about the change of station allowances and that most will be in commuting distance of the barracks where they will be re-assigned to.
