asked the Minister for Defence the assistance, if any, he intends to give to the Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen in order to provide suitable accommodation for former members of the Defence Force who may be homeless.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Defence Force Former Personnel.
9.
(Limerick West): I recently met a deputation from the Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen and Women to discuss, among other items, their desire to establish a home for ex-soldiers.
I told the deputation that any proposal the organisation might make in this regard would be carefully examined bearing in mind current financial and budgetary constraints.
I might point out, however, that former members of the Permanent Defence Force are entitled to the same consideration in relation to facilities provided by the statutory agencies as any other member of the community at large.
I am extremely disappointed with the Minister's response. Is the Minister telling us that members who have served a lifetime with the Armed Forces are to receive no consideration other than that available to all elderly single men? In fact there is nothing for them. They are consigned to the hostels, the soup houses and the streets. I understand that four former members of the Armed Forces died in poverty on the streets of Dublin during the past year.
(Limerick West): If the Deputy had been listening to my reply, he would know that I told the meeting of National Ex-Servicemen and Women that any proposals they would put to me would be carefully examined. I understand that they are about to put certain proposals to me which will be sympathetically considered and decided on.
Would the Minister agree in principle that it is certainly undesirable that men who have spent their lives in the Armed Forces for the State should have no recourse other than to the street?
The Deputy has already made that point.
(Limerick West): Of course I accept that. Any proposals which come before me will be examined and decisions will be taken.
Would the Minister agree in the interim to invite to his Department representatives of Dublin Corporation who share our concern that something should be done in this case and who would, I think, be willing to work out with him some solution to this problem? The housing officials would be of particular help in this respect.
(Limerick West): Of course. The issue has already been raised by my Department with Dublin Corporation and it is understood there will be a meeting with the ONE in the very near future. If the Corporation officials wish to meet me I will be glad to arrange a meeting.
Thank you.
Will the Minister consider the provinces as well as Dublin city? I refer to areas such as the Curragh, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Kilkenny.
And the west.
(Limerick West): Certainly. Any soldier retiring in Limerick or Cork is hardly likely to have the intention of going to live in Dublin. Facilities would have to be provided in other centres as well and these will be considered.
Is the Minister aware that an initiative to deal with this problem had been commenced by a previous Adjutant General, Major General Prendergast? If the Minister searches out the papers regarding what was happening at that time he might find in them the seeds of a solution to the problem.
Would the Minister agree that there is adequate spare capacity in the majority of barracks, particularly outside the Border area, where accommodation could be provided for retired members of the PDF? Would the Minister also agree that there is a total lack of co-operation between his Department and the Department of the Environment in relation to those members of the PDF who are approaching retirement and have no facilities made available to them?
(Limerick West): In reply to the last part of the Deputy's question, there is great co-operation between my Department, military personnel and the statutory housing authorities. It is an ongoing situation. In each barracks there is a social worker who looks after this matter, as well as many others. The necessary contacts will be made with the statutory housing authorities.