Minister for Housing and Planning Willie Penrose has accused army chiefs of "crass stupidity" after a proposal was made to close the Columb Military Barracks in Mullingar.
At a public meeting in the town last night, Mr Penrose said the Defence Forces had an abysmal record in trying to dispose of property.
Mr Penrose said he had sought the support of nine Cabinet ministers in opposition to any move to shut the barracks where 200 soldiers are based.
In a statement today, the Department of Defence said that no decision had been taken by the Government "in relation to the future of any particular military installation."
The statement said that " various commissions, reports and studies back to the 1990s identified barrack closure as a fundamental requirement towards improving military effectiveness and efficiency".
A department spokesperson said that she was "actively reviewing all areas of expenditure for which the Department of Defence is responsible", and that in this context could not "give any specific commitment that there will not be further programmes of barrack consolidation".
Columb Barracks is the only military barracks in the country that is dedicated to artillery.
The future of the base and the 200 troops who normally work there is now under review.
Over 300 people turned out at the public meeting, which was called by the wives and families of the soldiers, to respond to claims that a decision has been made to close the barracks in December.
