Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 3 Jul 1996

Vol. 468 No. 1

Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Defence Forces Married Quarters.

Robert Molloy

Ceist:

14 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Defence the number of married quarters currently held by his Department and by the Defence Forces; the number of such quarters which are currently occupied; the number occupied by currently serving personnel; the ranks of such occupants; the total amount spent in 1995 on the maintenance of married quarters; the amount spent in 1995 on the maintenance of married quarters occupied by serving members of the Defence Forces; what proposals, if any, he has regarding future policy in relation to married quarters; whether these proposals have been discussed with the representative associations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14575/96]

Mr. Barrett

There are 526 married quarters currently held by the Department. Of these, 395 are occupied, 326 by serving members of the Defence Forces, 61 by officers and 265 by other ranks.

Maintenance of married quarters comprises such works as ongoing routine repairs, window replacement, painting, roof repairs and general refurbishment. These works are undertaken by way of specific contracts, by inclusion in general barracks contracts or on a materials and soldier/civilian employee labour basis. In the circumstances, apportionment of costs arising under the Department's Vote specifically to married quarters is not readily possible.

The question of married quarters generally has been examined by a working group in the Department and proposals in regard to future policy are under consideration at present in consultation with the military authorities. Consultations on these proposals, when formulated, will take place in due course with the representative associations through the Defence Forces conciliation and arbitration scheme.

Mr. Molloy

Will the Minister inform the House when the military board's report on married quarters was submitted to his Department?

Mr. Barrett

Following examination of the question of married quarters in the Defence Forces by a married quarters board convened by the Quartermaster General, a report was prepared in 1993 proposing certain policy changes. This report was reviewed by a departmental working group which produced a draft policy document. The military authorities have furnished their observations on this draft policy document and these are currently under consideration with a view to finalising the Department's future policy in the area.

Mr. Molloy

Does the Minister consider it satisfactory that a report which was submitted to his Department by the military committee on married quarters on 26 November 1993 is still the subject of examination within his Department? No conclusions have been reached by the Department, no decisions have been made and no steps have been taken to implement any of the recommendations in that report in a period of more than two-and-a-half years.

The Minister must accept it is not satisfactory that his Department is dilatory in fulfilling its duties and that he, as Minister, has a responsibility to the men who are serving in the Defence Forces to ensure some action is taken on foot of the recommendations which they carefully and conscientiously put together and forwarded to the Department more than two-and-a-half years ago. Alternatively he should offer some explanation as to why no action has been taken.

Mr. Barrett

Has the Deputy got some problem that he wants discussed or is he just here to castigate about a report that is being examined and in which the military authorities gave their observations? What angle is he getting at? Is this an exercise in attacking me?

Mr. Molloy

I am sorry if——

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

I will call Deputy Molloy in a moment.

Mr. Molloy

If the Minister cannot see what the problem is, I can understand the difficulty.

Mr. Barrett

I can see what the problem is, but I will not sit here while the Deputy criticises me.

Mr. Molloy

This is parliamentary question time.

Mr. Barrett

I will defend myself.

Mr. Molloy

I have a right to ask questions and the Minister has a duty to respond.

Mr. Barrett

I have responded.

Mr. Molloy

The Minister responded by asking me why I asked the question. It is obvious. Surely something is wrong in the Department if a report which was submitted more than two and a half years ago is still the subject of consideration. This is a serious matter for those serving in our Defence Forces. They feel let down and cannot understand why the Department and the Minister have not taken steps following those recommendations. They should be accepted, rejected or implemented, but as yet there have been no conclusions.

Mr. Barrett

Is there a question?

Mr. Molloy

It is not acceptable that this should go on for so long.

Mr. Barrett

I have given the Deputy the information he requested about the number of married quarters. I told him that the military authorities have furnished their observations. This matter has been brought to my attention and I will examine it. All the Deputy is doing is using the opportunity to make a statement to the effect that I am letting people down. In what way am I letting them down? Does the Deputy want details of the number of houses sold over a period? Does he want to know our policy in relation to the Curragh and the difficulties there? What is his point? Would he kindly tell me how we are letting people down? In what regard is he suggesting that members of the Defence Forces are being let down?

Mr. Molloy

Is the Minister familiar with this report and the recommendations made by the military authorities? Has the Minister read the report?

Mr. Barrett

I am waiting for the report to be presented to me.

Mr. Molloy

So the Minister is not aware of its recommendations after two and a half years?

Mr. Barrett

I am waiting for it.

Mr. Molloy

That is the problem.

Mr. Barrett

I was not Minister two-and-half years ago and the Deputy knows that.

Mr. Molloy

The Minister has been in office for a long time.

Mr. Barrett

The Deputy should not be trying to play political games with me.

Mr. Molloy

The Minister gets touchy at times and I am sorry that I seem to have sparked it off.

Mr. Barrett

I get touchy when people make unfounded allegations.

Mr. Molloy

This issue has been ignored within the Minister's Department.

Mr. Barrett

It has not.

Mr. Molloy

The question asked the Minister to state his proposals, if any, on future policy in regard to married quarters. One would have expected that, in view of the report of the military board on married quarters and the recommendations contained therein, there would have been some statement from the Minister today about the action proposed to be taken. However, it is clear that the Minister is not even familiar with the report and we will have to leave this for another day.

Mr. Barrett

The comment by the Deputy is grossly unfair. As a former Minister for Defence he knows the procedure and the way we deal with the military authorities. A working group was set up and a report was presented to the Department. The Department drew up a draft policy document before I arrived on the scene. It has been discussed with the military authorities.

This is a complex issue, particularly in the Curragh where a number of houses are based in the camp and occupied by serving members of the Defence Forces who are obliged to leave them when they leave the Defence Forces. There are difficulties and to suggest that I do not know anything about this report is grossly unfair. I am assured by the Department that they will be in a position shortly to make recommendations to me for consideration. These, in turn, will be discussed with the representative associations. The Deputy should know, from his time as Minister for Defence, that the issue of married quarters, particularly inside a camp, is complex.

Mr. Molloy

Will the Minister give a commitment to take action to ensure that some decision is made soon on the recommendations in the military report on married quarters?

Mr. Barrett

I give an assurance to the House that I will treat this in the most humane way possible because I realise there are families involved. It is a difficult and complex problem. I assure the House that before I agree to any recommendations I will give them full consideration. Before any recommendations are implemented discussions will take place with the representative associations. This is the right and proper way to proceed.