Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021
907. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide a report on the plans of his Department to provide permanent stable accommodation as against hostel accommodation for retired veterans of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19851/21]
View answerMy Department formally recognises two veterans’ organisations that represent all former personnel, namely, the Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA) and Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann (ONE), the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel. The Department provides grants to both associations.
ONE provides board and lodgings for 49 ex-service personnel in three residential homes in Dublin, Letterkenny and Athlone, while IUNVA accommodates 4 retired personnel in its home on The Curragh. In addition, ONE currently has 12 Veterans Support Centres (VSCs) nationwide, while IUNVA operates drop-in centres at 8 of its 22 posts around the country.
Under the Programme for Government, the Department is continuing to assist ONE in its plans to establish a network of VSCs around the country. ONE plans to establish a total of 15 VSCs. The VSC aims to prevent homelessness through early intervention and to actively address loneliness. VSCs are available to all veterans to seek support and advice, not just to ONE members.
Departmental properties have been made available to ONE and IUNVA to house their VSCs and drop-in centres. 9 of ONE's Veteran Support Centres are located in military barracks, as are 3 of IUNVA's drop-in centres. Refurbishment work has been undertaken on a number of these properties to facilitate their use by the organisations. 11 of the 15 VSCs which ONE are in the process of establishing will be based in Defence Forces barracks.
As a further means of assisting the recognised Veterans Associations, the Department secured total funding of €300,000, awarded under the Dormant Accounts Fund, to assist ONE and IUNVA with specific special projects. ONE has nominated the provision of a VSC and hostel to accommodate 5 retired members of the Defence Forces in Cobh, Co. Cork as their special project. Work is currently underway refurbishing a former Social Welfare Office premises in Harbour Row, Cobh. ONE has plans to establish another VSC and hostel to accommodate 6 retired veterans in Cork City. This will bring to 60 the number of retired veterans that ONE will be able to accommodate.
My Department has no plans to develop permanent accommodation for retired veterans of the Defence Forces. Matters pertaining to housing are a matter for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
