Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 67: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of Army overholders in need of alternative accommodation; his plans to deal with the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24526/04]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Personnel, on being discharged from the Permanent Defence Force, are obliged to vacate married quarters within a short period of the dates of their discharge. The provision of housing is primarily a matter for the local authorities and married military personnel have an equal claim on such housing as other members of the community in the same income category. The individuals overholding 54 married quarters were written to in August, 2002, and requested to vacate the properties. To date, six of the quarters have been vacated and three others have been purchased by the occupants. A further eight of the properties have been offered for sale and a number of those sales are likely to be finalised in the near future.

My Department is continuing to examine all options, including affordable housing and voluntary and co-operative housing schemes, for the rehousing of those overholders who would in the normal way be eligible for local authority housing. The Department will remain in contact with the overholders pending resolution of the issue.