Co Kildare mother caring for 4 children while husband serves overseas for Defence Forces says she doubts they will ever afford to buy their own home

A Co Kildare woman married to a soldier deployed overseas for 12 months says she doubts they will ever afford to buy their own home.

Caroline( not her real name), said:”My husband and I have been married for  seven years we have four children, two in primary school, one in preschool and a nine month old baby. I was working full time until after my maternity leave when he was deployed overseas. My husband is serving a back to back trip overseas (12 months) so we can pay for rent, food, clothing and anything else we might need.”

She said“He is missing out on our children’s milestones and just having a cuddle with them. The children miss him and I miss him terribly. I am alone with four young children and we have to rent in an area that is cheaper than around the Curragh Camp as it’s very expensive. I don’t drive and my family are not in the same town as me either. Owning our own home is a dream we once had. Even though he is overseas making money with all the usual bills , gas electricity, rent,  I doubt we will ever have enough for a deposit and get a mortgage that would be enough to buy a home. "

The Co Kildare mother said: “It is a struggle most days but we try our best and just take it day by day.  We were on the council list and last October we were taken off it because we earned too much as a couple. I’m trying to get back on the list but not being entertained as my husband is earning too much overseas. I often wonder would we be better off if we didn't work. We are damned if we do and damned if we don’t.”

She said: “It breaks my heart to think of all that he has missed in our children’s lives and that my children don’t have the luxury of having a Dad to tuck them in at night and give them a goodnight kiss. This is not a life, it’s an existence.”

According to Sarah Walshe, the midlands representative for Wives & Partners of the Defence Forces, says that many Defence Force members are not qualifying for mortgages.

Several are at risk of homelessness.

Last week, thousands marched in Dublin, to show solidarity for the Defence Forces attempting to get improved pay and conditions. Rents are too high in many cases for the Defence Forces members and their families around Co Kildare. Soldiers are being forced to work at other jobs including take-away delivery drivers and in bar jobs to feed their families.

Ms Walshe said: “Many landlords don’t want to see people with children, they want working couples.”