Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. I will speak from notes supplied by the Department of Defence. Defence Forces married quarters are provided to serving members until their retirement or resignation and Defence Forces regulations state that quarters must be vacated within 15 days of leaving the service. The current position has arisen as a result of a failure to vacate these quarters as required.

The Defence Forces married quarters at Cathal Brugha Barracks consist of three and four-bedroom maisonettes. A letter issued to 11 occupiers who are in occupation on 11 September 2008, as the Deputy mentioned. They were informed of the Department's intention to complete the process of obtaining vacant possession of these married quarters and the occupiers were requested to make arrangements to vacate the premises and make alternative arrangements for their accommodation as soon as possible, but no later than the end of October. In the event that the occupiers qualified for local authority housing, an application form was enclosed.

I understand the Deputy's comments about the manner being callous and cold with regard to such matters, but it would not be appropriate for me to comment on any of those remarks. From what I have heard, the letter was probably written by a legal person. The Department of Defence indicates it should be clearly understood that the occupiers of these quarters are not being evicted as they have no entitlement to reside there and there are no tenancy agreements in place.

I understand the Deputy's comments on people who have done the State service through the Defence Forces. These issues often depend on what agreement was signed. Although I do not have the full detail, I understand it is not today or yesterday that these people retired. In many cases the issue might not concern widows but another generation. If the Department has such rules, it is clearly becoming more efficient in implementing them as they seem to have been ignored for donkey's years.

Previous attempts in the 1990s to sell the quarters to the occupants were not completed as legal difficulties were encountered. No agreements were ever entered into to sell the quarters concerned to those people who are in occupation of them. At a meeting with officials on 24 September, the occupiers were informed the deadline was not set in stone and the opportunity to work with them to achieve a solution favourable to all parties was welcomed.

It would appear now, arising from yesterday's meeting, that all the occupiers wish to purchase the quarters. Officials in the Department of Defence undertook to review the possibility of selling to the occupiers and a further meeting has been scheduled for the end of October. It is hoped that substantial progress will have been made by that time to facilitate a solution that meets the needs of the both the occupiers and the Defence Forces.

When I served as Minister of State with responsibility for housing, there were a few old cases like this involving voluntary housing and apartments. The argument was often thrown about that people were made an offer in 1988 or 1992 and the people wanted to buy at that price. I do not believe I ever saw anybody succeed with that argument, although I understand it. Matters seem to have moved forward in recent days from what the Deputy termed the original "cold and callous" letter. I hope business can be done very quickly.

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