Residents of the Curragh Camp, Co Kildare, will this morning stage a protest outside Leinster House in response to ongoing attempts by the Department of Defence to evict them.
The controversy relates to former military personnel and/or their families who still hold residency in the Curragh Camp but are not permitted to do so under Defence Force Regulations. The protestors have called for eviction notices to be withdrawn, court cases to be stopped, and for a section of the Curragh Camp to be allocated to provide housing for the families involved.
A spokeswoman for the Defence Forces last night said there are currently two individuals before the courts in relation to this matter but that a determination has yet to be given. She said the Department's position was outlined in the Dáil last March by the then Minister for Justice Alan Shatter in response to a parliamentary question from Independent TD Clare Daly.
“Military personnel are obliged, under Defence Forces Regulations, to vacate married quarters within 21 days of retiring or being discharged from military service,” said Mr Shatter. “The term overholder is used to describe former members of the Defence Forces and their families who have refused to leave married quarters, when obliged to do so.
“The situation of overholders continuing to occupy married quarters is no longer sustainable and measures to resolve this are being progressed. Properties located outside barracks are offered for sale to the occupants. Those that are located within barracks such as the Curragh Camp are not for sale for security reasons. My Department is, 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, twelve properties which were being overheld in the area of the Curragh Camp have been returned by the occupants. Presently, there are twenty eight overholders remaining at the Camp and ten of these overholders do not pay any charges in respect of their use of the property.
“I cannot support the illegal occupation of military property by those who have no entitlement. It is also important to remember that the Department of Defence does not have a role in the provision of housing accommodation for the general public and cannot provide housing for people who have no entitlement to housing provided from the public purse and who may well have the means to supply housing for themselves.”
