asked the Minister for Defence if he will introduce provisions on the sale and purchase of houses, similar to those available to the Garda as outlined by the Minister for Justice in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 264 of 27 November 1980, for members of the Defence Forces; and, if not, why, in view of the fact that members of the Defence Forces are subject to involuntary transfers.

Defence Force regulations, under which the pay and general conditions of the Defence Forces are prescribed, provide for recoupment of members of the Defence Forces in respect of expenses incurred by them on change of permanent station. These arrangements provide members of the Defence Forces with the same type of facilities as are available for other public service categories including the Garda Síochána.

Will the same transfer concessions be applied to Army personnel as to Garda?

The provisions for the Defence Forces are in line with arrangements available to the civil service.

I am asking the Minister if the concessions awarded to the Defence Forces for involuntary transfers are exactly the same as for the Garda Síochána?

I do not think they are exactly the same but they are quite similar.

Does the Minister accept that they should be equally attractive?

I accept that.