asked the Minister for Defence if he is aware that there are some 26 houses on Haulbowline which could be converted to good-class dwellings at small expenditure, that there is a grave scarcity of housing accommodation in the town of Cobh and its vicinity and that serving Army and Navy personnel have great difficulty in securing suitable accommodation for their families; and, if so, whether he will have these houses converted by his Department to provide housing accommodation for families of serving Army or Navy men or whether he will consider proposals from the South Cork Board of Health, under which they would take over and repair the houses, reserving the letting to members of the services.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Conversion of Haulbowline Houses.
I am aware of the housing shortage at Cobh and of the fact that personnel of the forces serving in the area have difficulty in securing suitable accommodation.
The position as to unoccupied houses on Haulbowline Island is not, however, as favourable as would appear from the Deputy's question. The number of unoccupied houses on the island is 17 and not 26. Of these, ten only are available to my Department; six are leased to Irish Steel Holdings, Ltd., and one is leased to Cork Harbour Oil Wharves, Ltd.
The question of reconditioning the ten houses which are available to my Department with a view to making them suitable for occupation to serving personnel is under consideration.
It would not be practicable to transfer the houses to the South Cork Board of Health.
I am satisfied if the Minister will guarantee to repair these houses himself. After all, the burden of providing houses for the personnel there falls on the South Cork Board of Health, if he fails to do his part in repairing these houses.