Almost 60% of military accommodation is not occupied

A call has been made for the government to address the issue of unoccupied military accommodation amidst the ongoing housing crisis. In response to a recent article highlighting the plight of a homeless single mother, Newbridge councillor Chris Pender reveals that he and his colleague, Deputy Gary Gannon, put forward a series of parliamentary questions focusing on unoccupied military properties. 

Startling figures show that nearly 60 per cent of family military accommodation across Dublin, Cork, and Kildare remains unoccupied. This alarming statistic prompted Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon to urge the government to reconsider its policy of not providing military family accommodation to members of the Defence Forces.

Cllr Chris Pender, upon discovering the vacant Kildare married quarters through the parliamentary questions, expressed his concern, stating, "The revelation that Kildare has unoccupied married quarters amidst the current housing crisis is deeply troubling. With families in desperate need of affordable housing, it is unacceptable that these properties remain empty. We must prioritise the effective use of every available resource to address the housing and homelessness emergency we are facing. It is time for immediate action to bring these properties back into use and provide a lifeline to those in need."

Cllr Pender echoes Deputy Gannon's concerns, stating, "The recent reports of a female soldier, a mother with an infant child, being denied permission to live in military accommodation are deeply troubling. It is unacceptable that she was forced to seek refuge on the couches of family and friends due to the lack of available housing options."

The figures obtained through Deputy Gannon's parliamentary question further reveal that out of the 134 living quarters in Dublin, Cork, and Kildare, a staggering 77 units lie empty. Many of these properties have deteriorated over the years, following the Department of Defence's gradual reduction in military family accommodation since the late 1990s. However, given the current struggles faced by Defence Forces personnel in paying rent or securing affordable homes, this ongoing decline in housing stock seems counterproductive.

Cllr Pender emphasises, "In the midst of a housing and homelessness emergency, it is imperative that every vacant property be utilised, even if renovation work is required to bring it up to standard. Members of the Defence Forces, along with their families, who are already coping with meagre wages, deserve better. The Department of Defence's refusal to reverse its policy is a slap in the face to those who serve our country."

Cllr Pender concludes by urging the government to take immediate action, stating, "We cannot afford to let these unoccupied properties go to waste. It is high time for the government to prioritise the needs of our Defence Forces personnel and their families by ensuring that all available military accommodation is utilised effectively. This is a matter of urgency, and I call upon the government to address it promptly."

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