Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the military authority that there are a total of one hundred and thirty-four (134) occupied and unoccupied married quarters under the stewardship of my Department.  The following table sets out the information requested by the Deputy.

The Deputy will be aware that it is a long-standing policy that long term residential married quarters are no longer provided.  There is no immediate plan to reverse this long-standing policy, which was introduced in the early 1990’s and was implemented on a gradual basis in recognition of the sensitivities involved for military personnel and their families.

The majority of these buildings are within military installations where military activities are continuously taking place. The future use of such buildings facilities is primarily a matter for the Defence Forces to consider in the context of their operational and training requirements.  It should be noted however that the majority of unoccupied married quarters are not suitable for occupancy for a number of reasons.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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67. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will provide an update regarding the proposed transfer of lands from his Department to the Land Development Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4774/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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With the establishment of the LDA in September 2018, the accompanying Government announcement confirmed that two Defence properties would transfer to the LDA namely the St. Bricin’s facility (Dublin City) and the former Columb Barracks (Mullingar).

To that end, officials in my Department have worked with the Chief State Solicitor's Office as a priority matter to finalise pre-contract matters, relating to Title and other formalities in advance of the formal transfer of the property to the LDA. These pre-transfer matters have largely been concluded and the Department are now awaiting the formal commencement by the LDA of the transfer of both sites.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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72. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to work with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to bring the derelict houses in the Curragh Camp, County Kildare, back into the State housing stock and make them available once again for service members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5150/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Since the 1990s, the long-standing policy of the organisation has been to withdraw from the provision of married quarters for serving personnel. This policy approach remains reflective of the State’s move away from the historic provision of tied housing for State employees.  The move away from this provision was accepted by senior military management at the time. My Department have previously transferred properties outside of this installation to the County Council, as the housing authority, and remains open to transferring the remaining properties on a similar basis when they become available.