Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 10 together.

Defence Forces married quarters are provided to serving members until their retirement or resignation. The Defence Forces regulations state that the quarters must be vacated within 15 days of leaving the service.

There are 52 married quarters currently overheld throughout the country - 39 in the Curragh, 11 at Cathal Brugha Barracks, Rathmines and two in Dublin 7. Ten of the properties at Cathal Brugha Barracks are in the process of being sold to the current occupants.

The charge for married quarters accommodation is currently in range of €42.16 to €80.76 per week for enlisted personnel and between €381.22 to €411.22 per month for officers. Overholders, if they are in receipt of a pension or gratuity, pay an additional 10% on these charges. There are some cases where there is no pension or gratuity and, as a result, it is not possible to deduct at source the relevant charge.

The period of time that overholders remain in Defence Forces quarters following their discharge varies with each family and their particular circumstances. As such, an average would not appropriately reflect the particular circumstances of each individual's situation. Officials in my Department are currently putting in place procedures to address each individual overholder on a case-by-case basis in order to rectify this situation in the interests of the Department, the military and the families involved.

Any increase in the charges will be considered as part of the Estimates and budgetary process for 2010. This will include consideration of the recommendations in the McCarthy report. Any decision, as with decisions on all of the issues arising from that report, will be a matter for the Government. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage pending the outcome of these deliberative processes.

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