asked the Minister for Defence the plans he has to further improve facilities and conditions at Finner Camp, Ballyshannon, County Donegal and when work will commence.

39.

asked the Minister for Defence the plans he has to build houses for married army personnel at Finner Camp, County Donegal, and the steps he intends to take to alleviate the critical housing problem.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 39 together.

Five new billets, providing accommodation for about 150 soldiers, have recently been completed at Finner Camp and will be ready for occupation in the near future. A new sports centre, in part of which an oratory is being provided, is almost completed.

Tenders will shortly be invited for the construction of a new dining-hall-cookhouse to cater for all ranks. The complex will include a recreation area for soldiers. I expect that work on the project will commence early next autumn.

The question of carrying out further improvement works at the camp, as resources permit, is under consideration.

The provision of housing is primarily a matter for the local authorities concerned and married soldiers have an equal claim on such housing with other members of the community in the same category. I understand that married personnel at Finner Camp have fared reasonably well in the matter of the allocation of local authority houses and I appreciate this very much. There are at present no plans to build married quarters at the camp.

Since other barracks around the country have been provided with married quarters, is there any intention of providing the same facilities at Finner Camp?

There are no such plans. Indeed, there are very few soldiers seeking such facilities.

There are very few houses being built, too. Donegal County Council are inundated with applications from Army personnel for houses.

Deputy Harte is giving information to the House.

Are these applications from Finner Camp? Donegal County Council have acted very fairly in regard to this matter.

Question No. 40.

How can they act fairly when they are not in a position to provide the houses?