asked the Minister for Defence if he will arrange for the construction of married quarters for military personnel stationed at Fitzgerald's Military Camp, Fermoy, County Cork.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fermoy Army Married Quarters.
37.
The provision of housing is primarily a matter for the local authorities and married soldiers have an equal claim on such housing with other members of the community in the same category. It is the policy to supplement the efforts of local authorities where soldiers' housing needs are greatest. In pursuance of this policy arrangements will be made as resources permit for the building of married quarters including the replacement as soon as possible of all unsuitable married quarters.
Does the Minister agree that the whole question of the erection of married quarters needs to be re-examined, that it is not good enough to be passing the buck to the Department of the Environment? Would the Minister not agree that the best solution would be to organise liaison so that a purchase-type house could be erected either by the local authorities or the NBA who would act as agents for Army personnel?
I am sorry Deputy Power has such a poor opinion of my predecessor. I have not passed the buck. A total of 324 houses have been built for use as soldiers' married quarters in various locations. They have been built by the Department. From time to time it has been found necessary to provide married quarters for soldiers. In the are in which I live it has been the standard practice always that married soldiers have been entitled, if anything, to preference when local authority houses become available. I understand the same position exists in County Kildare. Although we would be anxious to do it, I do not think that hiving off soldiers as if they were a different class of being is the way to do it. Where possible, soldiers could be included with other applicants for local authority houses. If there is not any other way, we are prepared to provide married quarters for them, but it is not the ideal way.
I am anxious to ensure that Fermoy would get the same treatment in regard to soldiers' accommodation as personnel in Collins Barracks in Cork where they have married quarters. I want to see the same facilities in Fermoy.
As Minister for Local Government I had the pleasure of opening a very large local authority scheme in Fermoy in which a number of soldiers were catered for. As the Deputy knows, there are not married quarters in Fermoy. A board of officers was set up in September 1980 to examine and to make recommendations in regard to soldiers' married quarters. That examination did not include Fermoy. The military authorities have indicated that there has been no evidence of pressure from serving soldiers for married quarters in Fermoy, and the Fermoy UDC appear to be reasonably co-operative in providing houses for Army personnel. In December 1980 five of the council houses were occupied by serving soldiers and three by soldiers' widows. I know that pressure may be exerted locally, but Fermoy is not among our priorities.