Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
202. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 173 of 4 July 2023, the current plans for these vacant units; if they will be brought back into use, given the ongoing housing crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37370/23]
View answer203. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 173 of 4 July 2023, if he will reallocate these vacant units to the local authority to be used as social housing, given the ongoing housing crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37371/23]
View answer204. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for an update on the Defence Forces assessment of the vacant housing stock to ascertain their suitability to return to accommodation usage for serving personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37372/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 202 to 204, inclusive, together.
Following my instruction to the Defence Forces to carry out an assessment of the vacant housing stock within the Defence portfolio, my officials have engaged with the Defence Forces in relation to the drafting of the necessary tender documentation to carry out such an assessment. The revised tender documentation is awaited in my Department. In terms of re-allocating vacant units to the relevant housing authorities, my Department has previously transferred houses to such authorities and has recently engaged with same in relation to them taking over housing stock outside military installations.
