A limited number of Married Quarters are available for serving members of the Permanent Defence Force. Defence Forces Regulations specify that the quarters must be vacated within 15 days of leaving the service. It is the policy of the Department that the use of Married Quarters should be discontinued in a managed and orderly fashion.
The person referred to in the Deputy's question is not, and never has been, a member of the Permanent Defence Force. In the circumstances, the Department wrote to him recently requesting him to vacate the premises and to make his own arrangements for alternative living accommodation. Whilst it is essential that the quarters be vacated, the Department is prepared to allow a reasonable period of time for the individual in question to make alternative arrangements.
I understand that this person has applied to Kildare County Council for social housing and has been placed on their waiting list. The Department wrote to Kildare County Council requesting them to facilitate him with suitable accommodation as soon as possible.