asked the Minister for Justice if he will consider the introduction of a special scheme, utilising special house loans of other means, to facilitate the purchase of homes by members of the Garda Síochána in view of the discouraging conditions at present existing in this respect arising from the involuntary mobility of their work.
Written Answers. - Garda Síochána House Purchase.
264.
There are at present a number of provisions drawn up in agreement with the Garda associations, which facilitate the sale and purchase of houses by members of the Garda Síochána who are transferred. These schemes provide for recoupment of expenses such as stamp duty, auctioneers' or house agents' and solicitors' fees, incidental legal expenses and expenses connected with loans or mortgages. There is provision also for the payment of certain travelling and subsistence expenses arising from the search for new accomodation, for the payment of removal expenses and for payment within certain limits of other incidential expenses, for example, those arising from the adaptation of household fittings to make them suitable for use in the new house. In addition, the cost of arranging and servicing bridging loans may be recouped subject to certain conditions.
I should mention also that in many instances housing accomodation is officially provided for gardaí who are transferred.
I believe that these special provisions take reasonable account of the problems that members of the Garda Síochána may come up against because of their liability to transfer.