asked the Minister for Defence whether he is aware that soldiers in the Kildare area are living in unsatisfactory housing accommodation; and whether the Army authorities propose to erect additional married quarters at the Curragh and Kildare barracks so as to provide proper housing accommodation for Army personnel.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Army Housing Accommodation.
121.
I am aware that certain married soldiers in the County Kildare area are living in accommodation that cannot be described as wholly satisfactory. The shortage of married quarters for soldiers has not, however, been confined to this area but has been a problem at various military centres. A programme for the erection of new married quarters at the centres where the needs were greatest and for the improvement of old type married quarters in certain barracks was drawn up some years ago and has been actively pursued. New housing schemes have already been completed in Dublin, the Curragh Training Camp, Athlone and Cork and eight new houses are in the course of erection in Naas. It is hoped to commence the erection of a further twenty new houses in Athlone this year to replace old type quarters which have been condemned. It has not yet been determined when or where the next quota of new houses will be erected but the needs of Campa Tréineála an Churraigh and of Cill Dara will receive full consideration in the light of the circumstances obtaining when a decision is being taken in relation to the location of the next housing scheme.
Does the Minister appreciate the difficult position of the wives and occasionally of the children of Army personnel who have to try to find accommodation with relatives or friends in a town because they cannot get accommodation in the military barracks for a married unit and, having regard to the desirability of encouraging persons to serve in the Army, would he make a special effort to ensure that reasonable housing accommodation is provided for all those married personnel who joined the Army and are anxious to continue to serve in it? Is the Minister further aware that it is extremely difficult to secure housing accommodation for such persons from the local authority because they are outside the scope of the local authority's activities?
We are pursuing the matter as earnestly and vigorously as possible. Over the last few years about 160 houses have been provided and the work is being continued. As I said in the reply, the places of greatest need receive first attention.
Is there any likelihood that within the next few months something can be done in the Kildare region?
I would not like to tie myself down to a definite date now. The Deputy does know from the last question he put to me on this matter that the position has been aggravated a good deal by over-holding.
If the Minister were to provide the accommodation in the barracks the local authority would help the Department to solve the problem of over-holding. That offer was made to the Department many years ago.
I do not get the drift of what the Deputy is saying.
I am still convinced the problem can be solved.