asked the Minister for Defence the position in relation to the provision of new married quarters for soldiers at Collins Barracks, Cork, to replace the present disgraceful living conditions existing there.

The planning of the proposed new quarters at the barracks cannot be finalised until the route of a proposed trunk water main to be laid in the area by Cork Corporation has been determined. My Department are pursuing this matter with the corporation and as soon as it has been settled the planning of the quarters will be completed.

Would the Minister please repeat the last part of his reply as I did not hear it.

The Deputy is aware of the proposed new water main?

Yes, I understand as soon as that is finalised——

The latter part of my reply read:

My Department are pursuing this matter with the corporation and as soon as it has been settled the planning of the quarters will be completed.

In a letter I received last year from the then Minister responsible for the Office of Public Works I was informed that the plans had been completed and were with the Office of Public Works. Has finance been allocated this year for the commencement and construction of married quarters at Collins Barracks because, to my knowledge, the plans have been completed?

A new development has arisen in that there was to be consultation between Cork Corporation, the Office of Public Works and the authorities involved in the old military cemetery which could possibly be utilised for the trunk water main. A meeting was to take place on 21 April last which was postponed. No firm decision on the siting of the water main can be taken until that matter is resolved.

It is not really a question of the siting of the water main. If the problem in relation to the water main is resolved, will the money then be available this year to commence the construction of the married quarters, because to my knowledge the plans have been completed, the NBA have drafted plans for the scheme?

The decision taken was to build 59 houses in phases. The sanction of the Minister for Finance will be required when we proceed beyond the planning stage. But the planning stage cannot be proceeded with until the siting of the water main has been finally decided.