asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that the Kildare County Council are prohibited by the regulations from even considering applications for their newly-erected houses which are received from former Army personnel who are living in houses belonging to the Department of Defence; and, if so, if he will take steps to amend the regulations to meet such cases.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing Regulations.
I am not aware that the position is as stated by the Deputy. There is nothing in the regulations which prohibits housing authorities from considering applications for houses from former Army personnel in conjunction with those of all other applicants and in accordance with the statutory preferences. I am not prepared to amend the regulations to give a preference to former Army personnel, as a class.
Is there not a provision in the regulations that, before any applicant can be selected for a subsidy house, the county medical officer must inspect the applicant's existing housing accommodation?
I cannot give the Deputy any clearer assurance than that which I have given in my reply to his question. I shall read the reply again for the Deputy.
(Mr. Smith re-read the reply.)
I think the Minister misses my point. In his reply, the Minister has omitted the words "living in houses belonging to the Department of Defence". My question may not have been very clearly phrased, but that is the objection. The county medical officer in Kildare says that he is not empowered to go in and inspect houses in the Curragh Camp—houses belonging to the Department of Defence. He says, further, that, unless he can inspect the existing housing accommodation of an applicant for a subsidy house, he cannot certify in accordance with the regulations in connection with subsidy houses.
I can only reply to the question which I am asked.
The difficulty is perfectly obvious and the Minister might try to clear it up. As Deputy Sweetman says, a number of people who served in the Army cannot get accommodation on discharge. They are still living in Army accommodation. The Army will not allow them to remain in the houses and are trying to get them out. The Kildare County Council have been considering the question of housing. The county medical officer has stated that he has not permission to go into the military barracks and inspect the accommodation there and that, consequently, he cannot report on these cases. What Deputy Sweetman and I should like to know is whether the Kildare County Council can offer a house to a man with a family who is living on military property in the same way as if he were not living on the property.
If the Deputy will read the question which was addressed to me by Deputy Sweetman, he will see that I have answered it very clearly indeed. The point has not been raised whether the medical officer for County Kildare or any county would be permitted by the Army authorities to enter and inspect Army property. I have no information on that matter. It has only been raised with me here now. I will read the question which was addressed to me by Deputy Sweetman.
(Mr. Smith re-read Question No. 62.)
I think it is entirely unfair to charge me with not giving the Deputy the information he asked for in the following reply:—
(Mr. Smith again read the reply.)
If Deputy Sweetman will address a question to the Minister in respect of the information which he requires, he will get a reply thereto.