97 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline in respect of (a) soldiers (b) non-commissioned officers and (c) officers, the married quarters which have been sold by his Department and Army authorities to the tenants; the location and number of such residences; the basis of the valuation upon which the sale transaction was made; the terms of the sale, including the length of period of repayment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

A scheme for the sale of Other ranks married quarters located outside of military barracks was introduced by my Department in 1988. A total of 176 married quarters has been sold to date to the occupants under the terms of the scheme and a further 16 are still in the process of sale.

The price of each quarter was the current market value as assessed by the Commissioner of Valuation less the following discounts: (1) a discount of 40 per cent of the market value for all eligible occupants, (2) an additional 10 per cent discount for the occupants of quarters which were first occupied prior to 1st January, 1960 and (3) a discount of £2,000 in lieu of the grant to first time purchasers of new private houses.

(The nett sale price was subject to a minimum price of £4,000.)