Vol. 326 No. 2
asked the Minister for Defence if he is now in a position to state when the building of new married quarters at Cathal Brugha Barracks, Rathmines, Dublin will begin and when it will be completed; and having regard to the disappointment and inconvenience caused by delays to date to soldiers and their families, if he will have all building works expedited.
29.
asked the Minister for Defence the accommodation that will be offered to tenants of the married quarters at Cathal Brugha Barracks, Rathmines, Dublin who are required to vacate their present accommodation to facilitate demolition and redevelopment; if the temporary accommodation will be up to modern standards; and if such tenants will be given priority when the new accommodation is completed.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 29 together.
As I informed the Deputy on 21 October 1980, in reply to a previous question, the firm with which a contract was placed by the National Building Agency Ltd., on behalf of my Department, for the construction of flats at the barracks, was then in receivership. Accordingly it was necessary to arrange for the placing of a contract with another firm. The National Building Agency Ltd., offered a contract to such a firm. As this firm sought a significant increase on its original tender price, it was decided to invite fresh tenders. The tenders are due on 6 February 1981, and I expect that it will be possible to place a contract soon afterwards. The contract will be for the construction of 12 flats and will provide that work should commence within seven days of the placing of the contract.
It is expected that the flats will be completed within a year of commencement of the work. The 12 dwellings will be the first phase of a programme for the replacement of the married quarters at the barracks. A clear site is available and accordingly the vacation of quarters pending the provision of the new dwellings will not arise.
Is the Minister conscious of the appalling damage to the morale of soldiers and their families in the quarters in question because promises made down through the years have not yet been fulfilled? Further, is he aware that, notwithstanding that he now says that the building will take place on a clear site, a number of families have been asked to move from their present accommodation to other accommodation in order to facilitate the demolition of buildings to enable construction to begin? It seems from the information which I and also the Minister have received, I am sure in good faith, that there is a conflict.
Because there is a clear site there is no question of families being asked to vacate existing sites. That is my information. I am not aware that what the Deputy has spoken about has happened.
I am glad to hear that. I know that there is a clear site and I was surprised that people had been asked to leave to facilitate demolition.
I am not aware of this, but I will have a look at it.
Thank you.
30.
asked the Minister for Defence having regard to the number of experienced soldiers in Dublin who are obliged to leave the Army in order to obtain adequate housing for their families, if he will expedite the building of sufficient modern accommodation for the married members of the Defence Forces and their families; and if, in the meantime, he will make representations to Dublin Corporation with a view to that body terminating the practice of not favourably considering applications for housing from soldiers residing in Army quarters, even when such quarters are substandard.
There is no evidence that any soldiers are leaving the Permanent Defence Force solely to obtain houses.
The provision of housing is primarily a matter for local authorities. The policy of my Department is to supplement the efforts of local authorities where soldiers' housing needs are greatest. Since 1954, 334 new married quarters have been provided at various locations throughout the country, including 92 in Dublin city. Married soldiers have equal claim on local authority houses with other members of the community in the same category. Dublin Corporation are very co-operative in this matter.
It is the intention that all unsuitable married quarters will be replaced by modern housing, as part of the programme for improving conditions for serving soldiers.
Surely the Minister must be aware that quite a number of long-serving soldiers who live in the married quarters concerned, Cathal Brugha Barracks, have tendered their resignation from the Army from time to time long before it might be expected that they would want to leave the Army? I realise that this is not a question but recently on one day alone three different families in those quarters indicated to me that the men were resigning from the Army in order to get decent accommodation. They could no longer tolerate the appalling conditions. That happened on one day alone.
They have not given that officially as their reasons for retirement. Our experience is that the corporation have been co-operative with regard to giving married personnel houses.
I suggest that the Minister contact local Deputies.
A final supplementary from Deputy Creed.
Would the Minister accept that housing shortage and bad housing accommodation are factors in Army personnel leaving, even though they do not necessarily give those as their reasons for leaving? This applies to those who buy themselves out and those who leave after the initial term. The main factors are shortage of housing and bad accommodation.
They are not given as reasons for retirement.
Ceist 31.
That may be so, but would the Minister accept that this is a fact? Again, we have the problem of overholding in married quarters.
The soldiers are not to blame.
But they are overholding.
Would the Minister please reply to Question No. 31?
