asked the Minister for Defence if he will consider making an arrangement with Dublin Corporation for the re-housing of families who are overholding residential accommodation in barracks in Dublin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing for Families in Barracks.
2.
Arrangements have been made with Dublin Corporation pursuant to which soldiers in occupation of married quarters in Dublin military barracks who are about to be released from the Permanent Defence Force are advised by the military authorities to apply to Dublin Corporation for re-housing. Following the making of each such application my Department requests the corporation to give favourable consideration to each individual case.
Surely the Minister is aware that a number of soldiers who are overholders through no fault of their own are losing a considerable portion of their gratuities because of the fact that they are overholders and Dublin Corporation are not in a position apparently to offer them alternative accommodation?
Dublin Corporation are very co-operative and they facilitated overholders during the years so far as they possibly could.
Is the Minister suggesting that there should be priorities?
What I am saying is that Dublin Corporation are very co-operative in dealing with the matter.
That does not solve the problem.
They have facilitated overholders to a considerable extent.
Would the Minister agree that because of the fact that Dublin Corporation are not in a position to facilitate everybody who is applying, deductions from the gratuity should be discontinued by the Army authorities until the position improves?
That is a separate question.
Having regard to the fact that the Minister for Finance has a lot to say about temporary schools, would the Minister not consider the possibility of providing adequate temporary accommodation for such overholders until such time as the local authorities can deal with the problem?
That, too, is a separate matter, but the main responsibility for re-housing devolves on the corporation.
And on the Chairman of the Housing Committee.
Surely the Minister must have regard for people who served this country in the Army and not leave them in a situation in which they suffer a financial loss? Would the Minister consider it and see what he can do?
We have always shown respect for the people who served this country.
We judge by results.