Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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35. To ask the Minister for Defence the progress in ending the legal action against former Defence Forces personnel and their families residing in the Curragh camp. [34552/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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As has been said previously military personnel are obliged, under Defence Forces Regulations to vacate military quarters within 21 days of retiring or being discharged from military service. The term overholder is used to describe former members of the Defence Forces and their families who refused to leave married quarters, when obliged to do so. Presently, there are twenty four overholders remaining on military lands within the Curragh Camp. This represents a relatively small group in relation to the large number of military personnel who occupied such quarters over the years but who returned the properties to the Department on their retirement, as they were required to do.

Nine of the overholders referred to above do not pay charges in respect of their use of the property and in some cases there are arrears due for the use of electricity.

The situation of overholders continuing to occupy married quarters is no longer sustainable and measures to resolve this are being progressed. My Department is therefore, in accordance with normal procedures, seeking vacant possession of married quarters which are being overheld and will continue to do so until the overholding issue is resolved.

In the period since January 2013, thirteen properties which were being overheld on military lands within the Curragh Camp have been returned by the occupants.

Officials from my Department have met with a number of overholders to discuss and examine what assistance can be provided in order to bring about a resolution to the problem of overholding. From these discussions and from its records the Department is aware that a small number of occupants may be particularly vulnerable due to their personal circumstances. The process of engagement with overholders is ongoing and the Department will need time to consider all the issues raised on a case by case basis. It is hoped that the discussions will provide an opportunity for both sides to work together in order to bring about a resolution to the problem.

The Department has also initiated discussions with Kildare County Council to determine whether there was a possibility of a joint initiative to provide solutions to the overholding issues in the Curragh. The Council indicated that, due to budgetary constraints their policy now is to lease suitable properties in order to provide accommodation for those who meet the criteria for social housing assistance. The Department have advised overholders where appropriate to apply for social housing and have supplied supporting documentation for the Council when requested.

Any initiative to resolve overholding must support and complement the current policy which dates back to 1997 of withdrawing from the provision of married quarters.

It is preferable not to have to use legal means to obtain vacant possession of the properties concerned. However, the ongoing illegal occupation of military property by those who have no entitlement to do so cannot be supported. In this regard, it is important to remember also that the Department of Defence does not have a role in the provision of housing accommodation for former members of the Defence Forces or for the general public.