Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Department does not make any profit on the occupation of married quarters. The housing stock is generally old and the Department has found in assessing vacated housing that substantial investment is needed to bring the stock up to the required standard for letting. This would not be cost-effective in the long term. When properties become vacant, they are withdrawn from use for several reasons, primarily because it is the Department's policy to withdraw from the provision of married quarters. We have moved on if one makes a comparison with the position 50 years ago, when we were obliged to provide married quarters. The Department is not a housing agency and is not responsible, legally or otherwise, for providing accommodation for members of the Defence Forces.

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