Campaigners for the retention of the army barracks in Longford have proposed that the closure be deferred for five years.
Connolly Barracks is one of five military posts that are due to shut down at the end of January following last month's Budget.
Most of the 130 soldiers involved will be relocated to Athlone.
However, families of the soldiers based in Longford have asked that the installation be gradually wound down over five years.
It is their view that the barracks in Athlone is not ready yet to facilitate the new arrangements.
They say they have collected more than 20,000 signatures of people opposed to the closure.
Local politicians have been asked to put aside party differences and to highlight the economic implications of the closure.
The campaigners claim the savings made by the proposed closure will be minimal and, in the early stages, would be negative and non-cost effective, without taking into account the human and social aspect caused by the proposal.
They say the closure of Connolly Barracks will have a major impact on the local economy at a time when there are 1,000 more people unemployed in Longford than in Athlone.
The campaigners disagree with the Chief of Staff Lt Gen Dermot Earley, who said that the soldiers of Connolly Barracks are agreeable to this proposal.
They said there are no soldiers within Connolly Barracks agreeable to the closure.
The army families say it will cost approximately five times as much in disturbance money and allowances to send the personnel to Athlone.
