asked the Minister for Defence if he will state whether any special arrangements have been made to help to get housing accommodation for members of the forces who, having occupied married quarters for many years, are now being discharged from the Army.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing Accommodation for Ex-Soldiers.
Efforts being made for some time past to secure housing accommodation outside barracks for serving personnel have not met with success, and, for this reason and in view of the existing housing shortage, it is considered that no purpose would be served by an approach to the local authorities for the provision of housing accommodation for ex-members of the forces at present.
Can the Minister give us any idea of the efforts that have been made?
General efforts have been made.
That is not really an answer to the supplementary question. Can the Minister state any specific effort that has been made?
Approaches were made to certain local bodies which were not successful. The reasons why they were not successful were given; the reasons being the housing shortage and the fact that vacant houses were being given to ordinary citizens.
Is the Minister not aware that the present regulations in regard to the allocation of houses confine the allocation to those resident in that administrative area and do not throw a vacant house open to the application or candidature of a soldier in married quarters in another administrative area? Surely if the regulations were altered, it would at least make them admissible.