Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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27. To ask the Minister for Defence the number of families living in Army accommodation who were given a notice-to-quit order by the Army authorities, between 2011 and 2014, because they were deemed to be no longer cohabiting; the position regarding a couple who are still legally married but currently separated; and his plans to review the current eviction process for dealing with sensitive cases, or those experiencing relationship difficulties, who in many cases are unable to source alternative accommodation. [6874/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Under military regulations married quarters have in the past been allocated to serving personnel upon request. Personnel who leave the Defence Forces or who vacate a married quarter property that had been assigned to them are required under regulations to return vacant possession of that property. Where the property is not vacated those remaining in the property are overholding and the Department seeks to recover possession from them.

Overholders are those who have no right under military regulations to hold or reside in military accommodation. The personal circumstances regarding the people overholding would not generally be known to the Department consequently I am unable to provide the numbers overholding due to circumstances such as relationship breakdown.

The Department assists in whatever way it can in order to resolve the cases of overholding without recourse to legal action. It is preferable not to have to use legal means to obtain vacant possession of the properties concerned. However, 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.

While each case of overholding is dealt with on an individual basis, it is important to remember that my Department does not have a role in the provision of housing accommodation for the general public.

The securing of alternative housing is a matter for the individuals concerned in the first instance. If individuals are not in a position to secure housing in their own right it may be the case that they qualify for social housing or that they qualify for some level of housing assistance. In such cases my Department provides whatever assistance it can in support of any such application. In addition, officials from my Department have met with officials from relevant local authorities regarding the overholding issue in order to make them aware of the situation and so as to be in a position to advise overholders of procedures and requirements when making applications for social housing, if requested to do so.

There are also a number of advice and support services available to Defence Forces personnel and their families. The Defence Forces Personnel Support Service (DFPSS) provides a confidential information, training and education, support and referral service for Defence Forces personnel with one or more qualified Barrack Personnel Support Service Officer(s) (BPSSO) in every Barracks.

The role of the BPSSO includes providing information, assistance and counselling on a range of matters including:

- Interpersonal problems

- Stress in many forms (personal, due to family and/or financial problems etc.)

- Bereavement (in its many forms, including family breakup)

- Housing (including stress from mortgages, inability to sell property to relocate family nearer the military workplace etc.)

Each Brigade/Formation also has a civilian Defence Forces Social Worker whose tasks are to provide assistance and support to service military personnel and their families, where required.

In addition, there is an Independent Confidential Helpline and Counselling Service for Permanent Defence Force personnel. Since 2013 this independent and confidential service was extended and a broader range of services was introduced, including family and couple counselling.