Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 474: To ask the Minister for Defence the reason he has chosen to issue notice to quit to tenants of his Department at the Defence Forces married quarters (details supplied) in Dublin 6; his views on whether 48 days notice for vacant possession, letter dated 11 September 2008 to families to vacate 30 October 2008, is breaking the law under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 whereby a tenant is entitled to a minimum of four months notice; the location where he expects these tenants to live; his views on the proposed evictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32065/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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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. The current situation has arisen as a result of a failure to do so. The Defence Forces Married Quarters at Cathal Brugha consists of 3 and 4 bedroom married quarters. The letter to the occupiers on the 11 September 2008 issued as a first stage in commencing a process of dialogue. 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 2008. It could be that the occupiers would qualify for local authority housing and to facilitate this, my Department enclosed application forms to be completed and returned to Dublin City Council.

On the 18th September a further letter issued to the occupiers inviting them to a meeting with the Department on the 23 September. At that meeting they were informed that the deadline was not set in stone and that, if at all possible, my Department would welcome the opportunity to work with them to achieve a solution favourable to all parties. It would appear now, that arising from that meeting, all occupiers wish to purchase the quarters. My officials 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 both the occupiers and the Defence Forces.