asked the Minister for Defence if he will consult with local authorities in whose area a military barracks is situated regarding the establishing of a joint housing scheme, built exclusively for army and naval personnel, in view of the lack of housing which presently militates against recruitment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing of Army and Naval Personnel.
14.
Serving soldiers have equal claim on local authority houses with other members of the community in the same category. The policy of my Department is to supplement the efforts of local authorities where soldiers' housing needs are greatest. Considerable progress has been made in this matter in recent years. A scheme of 50 houses was completed at the Curragh Camp early in 1979, four houses were recently built at Arbour Hill, Dublin, and work is well advanced on the construction of 14 houses at McGee Barracks, Kildare, and 20 houses at Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa, Renmore, Galway. Tenders for the building of 12 dwellings at Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin, are at present under consideration. The National Building Agency Limited has been asked to proceed with planning for the provision of additional dwellings at that barracks and also at the Curragh Camp, Collins Barracks, Cork, and Stephens Barracks, Kilkenny.
Is the Minister satisfied that in the allocation of local authority houses the Army personnel are treated as equal to other members of the community in their applications? Would the Minister think it much more effective if, say, local authorities in co-operation with the Department of Defence provided serviced sites for Army personnel who would be regarded as within the category of being able to provide their own houses? Would the Minister consider that housing is a problem which has militated severely against recruitment into the Army and that people in the Army should get an opportunity of being housed in the area where they serve so they can be integrated into the community and their skills be of benefit to the community at large? Is the Minister aware of the number of Army personnel who are serving in barracks that have to travel to and from the barracks from their homes? Does he not agree that that is not a very fair or equitable system?
The Deputy has asked a considerable number of questions. In relation to the first one, I would certainly hope that local authorities are giving equal treatment with other citizens to soldiers in respect of the provision of local authority houses. Any house provided by a local authority must be let in accordance with the statutory scheme of letting priorities based on the relative urgency of housing needs. Serving soldiers have certainly an equal claim to local authority houses with other members of the community in which they live.
I do not feel that the non-availability of married quarters is a deterrent against recruitment or that it militates against recruitment because the vast majority of recruits are young single men. As I pointed out originally in my reply the purpose of building the houses I have referred to is to supplement the houses built by the local authority but I would very much hope that the local authorities treat army personnel as favourably as anybody else.
Is it now official policy in the Department of Defence to make defence land available to build married quarters for the Defence Forces?
The Deputy had better put a question down in respect of that. The fact is that houses for the Defence Forces are not built on Defence land.
Is the Minister aware that some of the Army housing in Dublin is among the worst housing in Dublin and some of it is a cause for scandal? Will the Minister undertake to have the matter looked at?
I would accept that some of the houses are not up to standard. I am doing the best I can to improve these houses and to provide further houses.
My question asked the Minister to consult with local authorities in order to have a more effective housing drive by the provision of serviced sites for those in a position to build their own houses as well as a housing programme with the local authorities in order to provide proper housing.
I doubt very much if the suggestion of the Deputy would be the best way to solve the problem. I have no doubt that the Army are in close contact with the local authorities in relation to providing houses for Army personnel.