Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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5. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the status of non-serving Defence Forces personnel residing in accommodation in the Curragh Camp; the position regarding the maintenance of the accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3640/18]

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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My question relates to the status of so-called "overholders" at the Curragh Camp. Deputy Clare Daly and I raised this issue in 2013 with the former Minister, Alan Shatter. The Ceann Comhairle raised it in June 2015 and Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin raised it in December 2016. After four years since Deputy Clare Daly and I first raised this issue, will it ever be resolved? Will the Minister of State provide an update, particularly on the maintenance and upkeep of the accommodation in question?

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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In the past, military regulations provided that married quarters could be allocated to serving personnel upon request and subject to availability. However, this no longer applies and the Department's long-standing policy is to withdraw from the provision of such quarters.

Personnel who leave the Defence Forces or who vacate a property which had been assigned to them are required under regulations to return vacant possession of that property. It must be noted that the majority of those to whom such property was allocated have observed this requirement. Where the property is not vacated, those remaining in the property, be they the former serving member or the spouse and children of the former serving member, are classed as overholding.

Overholding continues to be an issue within the Curragh Camp with the continued unauthorised occupation of 23 houses by civilians. The Department will continue to seek to regularise this matter up to, and including, the recovery of vacant possession. In deciding on any course of action, the Department always takes into account the particularities of each individual case, such as if the occupier is elderly and the circumstances in which they became overholders.

The Department assists in whatever way it can in order to resolve cases of overholding without recourse to legal action. While securing alternative housing is a matter for the individuals concerned, when requested to do so, my officials provide whatever assistance possible to support such applications. As I have stated previously, each case of overholding is dealt with on an individual basis. However, it is important to remember the Department does not have a role in the provision of housing accommodation for civilians.

In general, former married quarter properties which have been vacated have been found to be in extremely poor condition. Many of these properties fell far short of what is required for family accommodation. They would require significant investment to bring them up to a habitable standard and the more derelict ones have had to be demolished.

When maintenance issues are brought to the attention of the Department concerning properties occupied by overholders, they are assessed by a competent person. Any matters of a health and safety concern are dealt with in collaboration with the occupants. All other matters are considered in the context of the status of the occupants as overholders.

The situation regarding the occupation of Department of Defence property by civilians is under review and it is hoped this will be concluded in the near future.

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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Both the Minister of State and the former Minister, Deputy Coveney, previously acknowledged in the Chamber that there are a number of vulnerable residents in accommodation in the Curragh Camp. The truth of the matter is that the Department is managing these houses into decline. There are some difficult circumstances prevailing to which the Department is turning a blind eye. I accept the Department is not responsible for the supply of housing. However, there needs to be some joined-up thinking in this case. We have a housing crisis. Accordingly, accommodation alternatives outside of the camp for the people in question are not an option.

The Minister of State claimed it will cost a fortune to do up these houses. I beg to differ. Of course, it will cost money to make them habitable again. However, with a bit of joined-up thinking, does the Minister of State believe that should be the way for the State to go? Is he not concerned that some elderly people in bad housing in the camp may have a bad experience which will reflect poorly on the Department of Defence?

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Each overholder case is assessed individually. A decision on how to proceed is made based on the facts of each case. We are sensitive to the specific vulnerabilities which may exist in such cases. The Deputy may have an individual case which he might prefer to raise with me privately rather than in the Chamber. I would be more than happy to look into it for him.

The property management section in the Department assesses each case on an individual basis. If the people involved are elderly, they are treated sensitively, as well as in a practical way. I must repeat that the Department of Defence is not a housing association. I am in favour of moving away from this situation. My number one priority is investing in accommodation for serving members of the Defence Forces.

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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I accept the Department is not in the business of supplying housing but it still has a legal and moral obligation to the remaining residents in the buildings in question. I do not want to be making a big deal over the individual complaint I have had from an elderly woman but I will correspond with the Minister of State on it.

I find it an incredible approach for the Department to engage in a tactic which is nothing short of managing the decline of these buildings. I had a discussion on this issue with the former Minister, Alan Shatter, four years ago. Then, Deputy Clare Daly and I went through several of the houses in question to see the condition in which they were. Those old redbrick houses were well built. I would rather be fixing them than many of the houses built since then. Although the Department is not in the business of supplying housing, given that the housing crisis reflects on every aspect of the Government, the Department should be obliged to make good use of these buildings. The idea that we do not want anybody living in the Curragh Camp any more is incredible. One would swear the Russians were going to invade us and that we need a military camp with no people living in it. The Minister of State can take my word for it that no one is going to invade us. No one would be bothered.

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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Is the Deputy in touch with the Russians?

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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The Minister of State needs to take a different approach to how the Department manages the decline of these housing units.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I am glad no one is going to invade us any time soon.

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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Just as well, as we have only six ships.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy stated the Department has a legal obligation in this regard. It has no legal obligation whatsoever.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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What if a serious incident occurred?

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The Department does not make any profit on the occupation of married quarters. The housing stock is generally old and the Department has found in assessing vacated housing that substantial investment is needed to bring the stock up to the required standard for letting. This would not be cost-effective in the long term. When properties become vacant, they are withdrawn from use for several reasons, primarily because it is the Department's policy to withdraw from the provision of married quarters. We have moved on if one makes a comparison with the position 50 years ago, when we were obliged to provide married quarters. The Department is not a housing agency and is not responsible, legally or otherwise, for providing accommodation for members of the Defence Forces.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I remind the House that half the time for questions has been used on priority questions. I do not want to be interjecting all the time but I am asking Members and the Minister of State for their co-operation.