THE nerve centre of the Irish military will have to be dismantled and moved even though the Department of Defence has nowhere to put it.

The communications centre, a critical part of the Defence Forces' infrastructure, was due to be transferred to the Curragh in Co Kildare as part of the government's botched decentralised plan.

However, plans for its switch to new premises at the Curragh have been put on indefinite hold as part of the government's decision to halt the decentralisation programme.

The communications network, along with the civilian part of the Department of Defence, were all due to move to Co Kildare on two separate sites in Newbridge and at the Curragh. Only the civilian aspect of the decentralisation plan has so far taken place however, and the communications centre has been left at the department's HQ on Infirmary Road in Dublin.

It is understood that dismantling the communications centre, rebuilding it and setting up at a new location will cost in excess of €1m.

One military source said: "The simple situation is that the communications centre must remain on Department of Defence property.

"That means the communications centre has been left behind in the building in Infirmary Road and also means nobody else can move in until it is gone.

"There is nowhere to go at present and it is now up to the Office of Public Works to find a new site, fit it out and dismantle the old centre."

The Department of Defence said it was not in a position to say how much the relocation of the communications centre would cost.

A statement from the Department of Defence said: "[Our] building in Parkgate, Infirmary Road, will be vacated arising from the relocation of the department to Newbridge, Co Kildare." It said all Dublin-based staff, the chief of staff and a number of other military personnel would move to Newbridge and were expected to be in situ by 8 November.