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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 16 Jun 1994

Vol. 443 No. 9

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Army Accommodation.

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

8 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Defence the progress that has been made with regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Partnership Government 1993-1997, to improve the living accommodation for members of the Defence Forces and their families; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

A board which recently examined the question of married quarters in the Defence Forces, including the condition and grading of such quarters, has furnished a report in the matter. Examination of the board's report by the Department is currently in progress and the recommendations therein are being considered with a view to formulating departmental policy concerning married quarters generally.

One hundred and eighty-five other ranks married quarters have been sold in recent years to the occupants on very favourable terms and consideration is being given to the sale of a number of remaining quarters located outside of barracks on terms in line with the current local authority tenant purchase scheme. It is recognised that the remaining holding of quarters should be maintained to an adequate standard and in this regard the Army Corps of Engineers inspect married quarters and carry out renovation work as may be required within the resources available to them for that purpose. Major renovations have been carried out in recent years to married quarters in the Curragh and in Collins Barracks, Cork and provision has been made in the current year's Estimates for Defence in respect of certain improvements to married quarters.

I understand the board which reported on married quarters was also to look at the promotion of home ownership among married personnel and the role of local authorities in the provision of accommodation, bearing in mind that married personnel are entitled to go on housing lists in the same way as other citizens in local authority areas. Did the board address those aspects and what conclusions did they arrive at?

The recommendation of the board in this regard is being examined. Approximately 200 other ranks married quarters located outside barracks were offered for sale to the occupants in 1988 at concessionary prices. Some 185 of these houses have been sold to date. The Department is offering the remaining quarters for sale as they become vacant on a first option basis to members of the permanent Defence Forces at a price advised by the valuation commissioner. In addition there are proposals to sell five other ranks married quarters to the occupants at the Coastguard Station, Crosshaven, County Cork and 12 other quarters at Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin, under the terms of the recently introduced local authority tenant purchase scheme. There is a proposal in the Programme for Government to improve living accommodation for members of the Defence Forces and their families. As far as married quarters are concerned there are approximately 325 soldiers' married quarters and 59 officers' married quarters still in use.

The Quartermaster General set up a board to examine married quarters in the Defence Forces. Its terms of reference included the condition and grading of these quarters. Examination by the Department of the board's report is currently in progress and the recommendations therein are being considered with a view to formulating departmental policy in the matter. Their terms of reference were extended to incorporate examination of increased home ownership by members of the Defence Forces and examining how local authorities could meet the housing needs of military personnel in the context of the plan for social housing on the public capital programme.

I asked if any recommendations had been made regarding how Army personnel might be encouraged to become home owners as distinct from buying existing militaryowned accommodation. As regards single accommodation, I understand there is considerable concern about the standard of accommodation in barracks, the large number of personnel who have to share a small number of toilets and showers, the condition of floor coverings and so on. Have these complaints been adequately addressed?

Considerable improvements have been made in the living accommodation, but visiting barracks around the country I saw accommodation which would be a source of embarrassment to any Minister or Government or anyone who had a feeling for the need for people to be properly accommodated. As regards the nucleus of the Deputy's question, which is what measures the board has examined to encourage a higher degree of home ownership by members of the Defence Forces, recommendations in this regard are being examined. The board has reported to the Department which is considering the report with a view to forming policy in light of the recommendations contained in it. If I might anticipate the Deputy's next supplementary question, the report will not be published. I understand it is not the practice to do so.

I appreciate the Minister's capacity to foresee my next supplementary and I also appreciate his reply. As regards single accommodation and bearing in mind his statement that he has seen accommodation he would be embarrassed to let others see, will the Minister indicate what steps have been taken to upgrade it and provide adequate and decent accommodation?

The upgrading of accommodation is ongoing. The following improvement works are proposed: the replacement of windows in the married quarters in O'Higgins's Terrace, Curragh Camp, at a cost of £150,000 and the internal painting of the M Block in the married quarters at Columb Barracks, Mullingar, at a cost of £10,000, giving a total of £160,000. I appreciate this is a small figure but it is an earnest of the intention of the Defence Forces to improve sub-standard accommodation. Approximately £250,000 has been spent on specific improvements to married quarters since 1990. However, the Quartermaster General must have regard to an overall list of priorities, which includes married quarters, and define his requirements within available resources. If adequate resources were available all the things the Deputy and I want would be done in the morning but, unfortunately, from time to time we are strapped in terms of the things we want to do.

In accordance with Standing Order 36, I will deal with questions addressed to the Minister for the Marine in three or four minutes. I call Deputy De Rossa's Question No. 9 before we proceed to deal with questions addressed to the Minister in his capacity as Minister for the Marine.

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