asked the Minister for Defence if he will state whether he intends to proceed with the erection of houses as married quarters for N.C.O.s and private soldiers at Ballincollig, County Cork, and, if so, when work on the project is likely to commence.
Ceisteann—Questions. Oral Answers. - N.C.O.s Married Quarters.
I am unable, at this stage, to state when new married quarters for N.C.O.s and men are likely to be built at Ballincollig Barracks. The matter is, however, being considered as part of a scheme to improve the housing conditions of married soldiers at certain military centres.
In view of the extraordinarily bad conditions in which the N.C.O.s and privates of the Army in the Ballincollig area must live, will the Minister take that area as an entity where of necessity this problem must be tackled?
The matter is being examined. I am aware that conditions in some places are bad but they are not that bad. I have inspected Ballincollig Barracks, and I have slept in much worse.
Is the Minister further aware that, because of the very bad housing conditions in Ballincollig for privates of the Army, the South Cork Board of Health had to house six families of Army men in board of health houses?
I am sure they had. I will try to rectify it as quickly as possible but the conditions are not that bad.