asked the Minister for Defence if he will give an assurance that no Army personnel who own houses will be transferred from their present districts so long as it is not possible for them to sell their houses because of the mortgage crisis.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Transfer of Army Personnel.
19.
Army personnel are transferred from station to station as the exigencies of the service require. While I cannot give the assurance sought by the Deputy, it may be taken that the personal difficulties of individuals, including any problems which they may have in the matter of mortgages, are taken into account as far as possible before personnel are transferred.
Is this not a very serious situation? We have another Minister sitting to the left of the Minister for Defence and he is creating situations whereby, if a senior officer in particular, who would probably have a private house, is transferred from Dublin to Limerick and will be permanently stationed in Limerick, that senior officer is not now allowed to sell his house and does he have to maintain two houses to satisfy the Minister for Local Government?
The Deputy exaggerates. Every help and consideration will be given to any man who has a difficulty, but we have to do our security duties at the present time and we will do them with the aid of both the Army and the civil powers and people will be transferred if transfer is necessary.
Will the Minister not have at least a little bit of sympathy with a young officer buying his own house on mortgage and try as far as possible to ensure that he will not be shifted while this mortgage exists?
I can assure the Deputy that I will take all the exigencies of the service into account in every possible way and all the difficulties confronting any officer or man as well.
The Minister is aware that there is this difficulty at the present time.
I am not so aware.
The public are so aware.