The refurbishment of living quarters is an integral part of my Department's building plans. Major contracts to improve the standard of accommodation in the Curragh were placed in recent years as part of the barracks reinvestment plan for the Defence Forces. These included contracts to the value of €5 million approximately in Connolly Barracks, students, and Clarke Barracks, other ranks. In addition, minor accommodation upgrade contracts to a total value of approximately €600,000 were carried out within the Curragh Camp, together with a €1.2 million refurbishment of accommodation at nearby Coolmoney Camp. The capital works programme for 2005 includes a €1.5 million project to provide modern living in/courses and transit accommodation in Connolly Barracks. I am committed to the ongoing development of accommodation facilities in the Curragh and throughout the Defence Forces generally and improvements will continue to be carried out in the light of competing demands and availability of financial resources.
My Department's policy on married quarters has been set out on many occasions previously and this policy of discontinuing them in a managed and orderly manner, save in exceptional circumstances, will continue in the future.