asked the Minister for Defence whether he will take steps to alter the practice under which a discharged member of the Defence Forces suitable for subsequent civilian employment in the Defence Forces is refused such employment if, through the inability of the local authorities to provide alternate housing, he is unable to vacate married quarters.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Army Married Quarters.
86.
There is urgent need for the recovery of all overheld quarters in order to cater for the large number of married soldiers seeking accommodation. In the circumstances I regret I could not agree to do what the Deputy suggests.
Does the Minister not consider that there is something deplorable in the fact that nobody in the Department of Defence or in the Department of Local Government takes responsibility for getting housing for a man who has spent his life in the Army and that he is victimised because he is overholding married quarters through no fault of his own?
The Deputy must recognise that there are large numbers of married Army personnel looking for houses and our responsibility is towards those people.
Surely the Minister will accept responsibility for the people who gave life service in the Army?
They are being looked after in a very reasonable way but, in the matter of housing, accommodation is limited and we have responsibility to house our serving personnel.