Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will certainly come back to the Deputy on where it is.

With regard to accommodation, I visited the modernised, upgraded facilities at the Curragh and the new ones are excellent. We will continue to invest in upgrading and improving accommodation for everybody at the Curragh. Of course, we have to continue to do that. If there is substandard accommodation, we have to make sure that is part of the phased capital expenditure that we have. However, with expenditure of €17.5 million in the past couple of years and €16.5 million next year, if we keep up that level in the Curragh each year, we can make dramatic change there to upgrade and modernise buildings. That is ultimately what we are trying to do.

In terms of long-term housing considerations, we have moved away from a large number of people having their housing needs delivered through the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces. That policy was changed many years ago - long before I came along.

There are issues regarding overholders whom, of course, we need to work with to make sure that housing needs are met but, at the same time, everybody is treated fairly. I understand that there have been conversations with Kildare County Council on that. I can check the status of that for Deputy Howlin, if he wants.

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