Soldiers ‘can’t afford €48 a week for accommodation’

The Defence Forces say soldiers shouldn’t have to sleep in their cars as there is emergency accommodation available to them — but it costs €48 a week.

The Defence Forces press office said senior officers would investigate claims that some soldiers, who’ve seen their wages cut dramatically in the past six years, simply can’t afford to drive home to their families every night.

The claims were made by senior figures in the Permanent Defence Forces Other Ranks Representative Association (PDForra) at their annual conference in Sligo.