Defence Forces

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 May 2023

Tuesday, 9 May 2023

Questions (161, 162, 163, 164)

Gary Gannon

Question:

161. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will provide a detailed process of how military housing is applied for. [21554/23]

Gary Gannon

Question:

162. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of applications received for military housing between 2018 to 2023, broken down by year, in tabular form. [21555/23]

Gary Gannon

Question:

163. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of successful applications received for military housing between 2018 to 2023, broken down by year, in tabular form. [21556/23]

Gary Gannon

Question:

164. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will provide a breakdown of the ranks held by successful applications for military housing from 2018 to 2023. [21557/23]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Defence

I propose to take Questions Nos. 161 to 164, inclusive, together.

As the Deputy may be aware it has been a long standing policy, in line with other public sector employers, to discontinue the historic provision of tied housing to serving personnel. Single living in accommodation is provided for operational and transient use and by its nature it is not designed for long stay accommodation.

There is a residual amount of habitable housing stock maintained for personnel to avail of for training and operational purposes. The allocation of such housing is decided locally by the military authorities pursuant to the provisions of Defence Forces Regulation Q6 (Public Quarters). The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in the format requested. My officials will seek this information from the military authorities and I will arrange to have this data forwarded in due course.

The following reply was received under Standing Order 51:

I refer to the Parliamentary Questions in which you sought information in regards to military accommodation. Please find attached the information that I indicated I would provide to you.

In my reply to Parliamentary Question 161, I explained that it has been a long standing policy, in line with other public sector employers, to discontinue the historic provision of tied housing to serving personnel. Single living-in accommodation is provided for operational and transient use and by its nature it is not designed for long stay accommodation.

There is a residual amount of habitable housing stock maintained for personnel to avail of for training and operational purposes. The allocation of such housing is decided locally by the military authorities pursuant to the provisions of Defence Forces Regulation Q6 (Public Quarters).

I indicated that that the information you requested was not readily available at the time of answer.

I am now in a position to provide the requested data, in tabular format below, as provided to my Department by the military authorities.

			Military Housing
Year	No of applications receivedPQ Ref 21555/23Dáil No: 162	No of successful applicationsPQ Ref 21556/23Dáil No: 163	Rank of Successful ApplicationsPQ Ref 21557/23Dáil No: 164
2018	8	2	Capt x 2
2019	9	3	Capt x 2, Comdt
2020	4	1	Comdt
2021	6	3	2/Lt, Lt, Comdt
2022	6	2	Lt, Capt
2023	2	0

Question No. 162 answered with Question No. 161.

Question No. 163 answered with Question No. 161.

Question No. 164 answered with Question No. 161.