Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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110. To ask the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 150 of 26 March 2015, the action proposed in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who received communication from the Chief State Solicitor's office on 20 March 2015, to the effect that court proceedings are to be commenced against that person, on foot of notice to quit dated 26 June 2014; if overtures have been made to the local authority to meet that person's housing requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13842/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In advancing the long standing policy of withdrawing from the provision of married quarter accommodation the Department assists in whatever way it can in order to resolve cases of overholding of Departmental property without recourse to legal action.

The case referred to however is one of a number of cases of overholding presently being dealt with where the Department has been obliged to have recourse to legal process. This has been necessary as the occupant has not responded to the Department’s request to return vacant possession of the property or otherwise engaged with the Department in the matter. Pending the court hearing in the case, it would be inappropriate at this point to comment further on the Department’s approach.

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. Also, the Department has no knowledge of the personal or financial circumstances of overholders generally and does not have any role in determining entitlement to social housing. The Department does however advise overholders where appropriate on applying for social housing and has supplied whatever supporting documentation it can when requested to do so.

The ongoing illegal occupation of Departmental property by those who have no entitlement to do so cannot be supported and the Department cannot subsidize housing for people who have no entitlement and who may well have the means to supply housing for themselves.