Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 17 Feb 2000

Vol. 514 No. 5

Written Answers. - Defence Forces Property.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

52 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Defence if the four vacant houses at Orchard Park, the Curragh, County Kildare, will be offered for tender to members or ex-members of the Defence Forces resident within the Curragh Camp; the reason his Department changed its policy on the sale of houses as outlined in the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 151 of 9 February 2000 from that outlined in the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 96 of 8 December 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4534/00]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

The position with regard to the sale of the houses at Orchard Park to the occupants is that they have been offered for sale under terms similar to those contained in the 1995 local authority tenant purchase scheme. In that regard, the full range of discounts has been applied and other terms and conditions of the scheme will be applied where that is considered appropriate. However, I would point out that the properties have been valued by the Commissioner of Valuation and I consider that the prices at which the houses have been offered for sale are fair and reasonable.

With regard to the four vacant houses in the estate the position is that, in line with normal practice, they have been offered for sale by tender to serving members of the Permanent Defence Force. If acceptable tenders are not received they will be offered for sale on the open market.

Seán Power

Ceist:

53 Mr. Power asked the Minister for Defence if he will make available a half acre site adjacent to Magee barracks, County Kildare, for the provision of hostel accommodation for former members of the Defence Forces. [4490/00]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

Magee Barracks, Kildare, is being used to accommodate Kosovar refugees on a temporary basis. However, it is proposed to appoint independent consultants shortly to prepare an area action plan in respect of the former barrack lands. All local interested groups will be afforded an opportunity to submit proposals for consideration in the context of the formulation of the plan and the organisation of national ex-servicemen, which represents former members of the Defence Forces, may wish to submit a specific proposal to the consultants for consideration in due course.