Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

The Minister for Defence thanks Senator Norris for raising this matter, as I do. The Department of Defence was made aware on the morning of 23 November 2005 that a fire had occurred at one of the married quarters located at Cathal Brugha Barracks in Dublin, which was occupied by a former member of the Defence Forces. The married quarters in question comprises one of 12 quarters constructed in 1982-83 by the National Building Agency. It is at ground floor level with a second married quarters located overhead.

The Dublin Fire Brigade attended the scene, assisted in the evacuation of the quarters and extinguished the fire. Gardaí from the Rathmines district also attended at the scene and have since furnished a report on the matter. That report, as well as one from the Dublin Fire Brigade, indicated that the fire resulted from a discarded cigarette butt in the occupant's bedroom. The Minister understands that the occupant's wife and daughter were also in the premises at the time. Fortunately, there was no loss of life but the occupant was taken to hospital suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation together with slight injuries.

An initial cursory inspection of the property by the Department's properties officer and the barrack foreman of works at Cathal Brugha Barracks indicated that the fire had totally destroyed the quarters internally and indicated that before being fit for occupation, total refurbishment would be required. There was no damage to adjoining or overhead properties. The military authorities were asked to furnish an architectural-structural assessment of the extent of the damage to the property. The Minister understands that the corps of engineers has completed an inspection of the quarters and the cost of repairs is estimated to be in the region of €95,000.

The occupant is a former member of the Permanent Defence Force, has been residing in married quarters since 1977 and has occupied the subject quarters in Cathal Brugha Barracks since July 1982. He was discharged from the Permanent Defence Force in July 1982 and had been overholding the property since 17 July 1994. Personnel, on being discharged from the Permanent Defence Force, are obliged to vacate married quarters within a short period from the date of the discharge. Overholding arises where members of the Permanent Defence Force who have been allocated married quarters, are discharged from the force and fail to vacate. The provision of housing is primarily a matter for the local authorities and married personnel have an equal claim to other members of the community in the same income category.

While it was the policy in the past to augment the measures taken by local authorities where soldiers' needs were exceptional, married quarters for members of the Defence Forces have for some time now been considered an anachronism and it has been the policy of the Department to discontinue them in a managed and orderly manner.

Since 1988 it has been the policy of the Department to sell off married quarters located outside of barracks. Such quarters are offered to occupants on terms similar to those contained in the local government tenant purchase schemes. In 1997, the married quarters located at CathaI Brugha Barracks were offered for sale to the occupants. There are a number of layout and structural design issues associated with them, especially common shared elements, for example, waterpipes, services, access to attics, common green areas, etc. All 12 quarters must be sold in view of their shared services design.

At that time it was made known that the quarters would only be sold if all of the occupants agreed to purchase. Notwithstanding declarations by the occupants of intent to purchase, doubt existed from the outset as to their financial ability to purchase the quarters. The Chief State Solicitor's office advised that the Department would not be under any legal obligation to accept any offers from any of the other occupants in the event of one or more of them choosing not to purchase.

The married quarters are surrounded by private housing built on land sold by the Department some years previously and connected to that development's sewerage system. The services of that development, including water supply, roads, footpaths, public lighting and green areas have not been taken in charge by Dublin City Council and are currently the responsibility of a private estate management company. Such services relating to the married quarters, if not taken in charge by the city council will be integrated into the adjoining private development and will need to be taken in charge by the estate management company, subject to a negotiated agreement between all the parties involved. It has not been possible to proceed with the sale of the quarters pending resolution of the difficulties surrounding the shared elements and services. The remaining 11 quarters are occupied and the Department is continuing to explore possible solutions to this intractable issue.

As already indicated, the provision of housing is primarily a matter for the local authorities and married personnel have an equal claim on such housing as other members of the community in the same income category. The Minister understands that the community welfare officer was in contact with the family immediately following the fire regarding their welfare needs, including accommodation and, in this regard, had also spoken to the Department's properties officer.

Members of the family have also been in touch with the Department. The Department has, in turn, been in touch with Dublin City Council, offering to provide any information or clarification it might require as regards any application it might receive in regard to accommodation for the individual in question, together with his family.