asked the Minister for Defence the total number of applicants on the waiting list for married quarters; and if, having regard to the liability of soldiers to be transferred to any location in the course of duty, and the long waiting periods which exist in some local authorities' areas before applications for housing may be considered from new residents and the consequent serious hardship caused to many soldiers and their families, he will arrange for an expanded programme of building of new quarters and improving old quarters.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Soldiers' Housing Accommodation.
16.
The total number of non-commissioned officers and men at present on the waiting list for married quarters is 194. While soldiers are liable to be transferred from one location to another at any time, they are normally transferred only at their own request, or on promotion. The incidence of such transfers is, in fact, small. As has been indicated in replies to previous questions, the provision of houses for soldiers is primarily a matter for local authorities and a soldier has an equal claim on local authority houses with any member of the community in the same income group. The policy of my Department is to supplement the efforts of local authorities where the need is greatest.
In regard to old type quarters, a programme of modernisation has been in progress at the Curragh Training Camp for a number of years and, when it is completed, consideration will be given to the modernisation of such quarters in other areas.
I am sorry to say that due to the interesting activities in the waters of Kilkenny I did not get the first number. Was it 194?
Yes.
Would the Minister not agree that the present position is that soldiers on transfer in some cases have to wait four years before having their application for housing accommodation considered by the local authority because of the residential qualification and that this imposes immense hardship on the wives and children of serving soldiers? On that account and because of the possibility that the obligation to transfer may have to be imposed more frequently in the future than in the past, would the Minister not accelerate the rate of building of new quarters and modernisation of old quarters?
This is being done as far as possible. Transfers are few and arise only in the event of an application for transfer or in the case of promotion. Naturally, transfers for people in any occupation bring with them certain hazards in relation to housing problems. It is true to say that the Department of Defence are aware and conscious of the need to assist the local authorities as far as possible in the provision of accommodation for people such as these. A programme of modernisation is in progress at the Curragh at the moment and, when that is completed, other such quarters will be taken in hands.
Is the Minister aware that in Athlone the Department carried out a very commendable scheme some years ago? A new housing scheme was built for soldiers. I think the initiative and the technical knowledge and the design of the houses came from his Department. Could he not expand that? At all Army posts the Army could take the initiative.
I can assure the Deputy that we will take this into consideration.
Will the Minister ensure that it is done more expeditiously than the work in The Curragh, or the work of installing new electric wiring in Cathal Brugha Barracks in Rathmines which took over four years to complete and, when completed, was inadequate to allow the housewives to use electric irons, electric fires or television sets?
I note the Deputy's comments but it is a separate question.