Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Ireland is in the middle of its worst ever housing and homelessness crisis. The Government has committed to opening up every unoccupied house to alleviate the growing housing list. Among the many workers on housing lists are serving soldiers. We recently saw the case of a serving soldier being made homeless in Kildare. Bearing this in mind, I wrote to the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, whom I support in his efforts, asking if he would consider reopening the decommissioned or locked-up Army houses. I suggested that if it was the case that the Department of Defence or the Defence Forces did not want to become involved in the management of married quarters, it might be possible to transfer the housing stock held by the Department of Defence to local authorities or some housing agency. I understand that the Minister is looking into this.

Following a freedom of information request, I can advise that the following is the position regarding Department of Defence houses available in the State. There are currently nine houses in use for enlisted ranks and 50 vacant. There are 13 houses in use for officer ranks and 12 are vacant. Some 62 properties are locked up and decommissioned. I believe that these houses should be immediately refurbished if necessary and put back into use. Not only would this assist in reducing the waiting list for houses but it would bring soldiers closer to their place of work. I would also argue that there is an urgent need to provide suitable married quarters for mid-ranking officers within close proximity to each military installation, given the frequency of movement and transfer of these officers and the short notice given when they are transferred.

I wish to discuss the issue of the Border. I am becoming more concerned as to where we are going with Brexit negotiations. I am now convinced that the British Government has no interest whatsoever in putting a border in place on the northern side of the Border. This will put the gun to the head of the European Union to protect the Single Market. I believe that the Taoiseach expressed concern in his comments yesterday, although I was not here to hear them. I am aware of the fact that the Government cannot set out what contingency plans it has in place, but it is time that we started to talk openly about the likelihood that the British will not put a border in place. That puts the EU in the position where it has to manage the Single Market.

Almost a year ago, we promised our city and county councillors a slight increase in their income. I will be meeting a number of those councillors this evening. That increase in income has not occurred. I am putting the Leader on notice that I will bring this back to the House next week because I think these people work extremely hard. I was in Brussels for the last two dates and councillors were there from all over Ireland to address different issues. To think that some of these people struggle to survive is not good enough. I know the Leader is committed to getting some action, so I would like to see action and we will talk about this next week.