asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that 12 tenants on the Domville Estate, Santry, are to be evicted from their houses, if they do not find alternative housing accommodation by 31st January next; and, if he is aware that some of these people have been in occupation of these houses for from 12 to 40 years, and if, in view of all the facts, he will agree to leave the tenants in occupation until such time as they find alternative housing accommodation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Dublin Estate Tenants.
The lands at Santry known as the Domville Estate were in the possession of the Joint Committee of Management of Grangegorman Mental Hospital and were acquired in August last from the committee for the purpose of establishing a regional sanatorium in pursuance of the Tuberculosis (Establishment of Sanatoria). Act, 1945. I would like to take this opportunity to correct one of many misleading statements made in a recent issue of the Irish Times under the caption—policy Behind the New Public Health Bill. The particular misstatement to which I refer was made in the following terms:—
"Concurrently with the corporation's preparation of plans, the Board of Grangegorman Mental Hospital acquired possession of Santry Court and demesne, and prepared plans for its use. At that point the Minister, using his powers under this year's Tuberculosis Act, overruled the board's plans and took possession of the Santry property as the site for a new 1,000-bed sanatorium."
There is no truth in the Press statement that the plans of the Committee of Management of Grangegorman Mental Hospital for Santry Court were overruled. Possession of the lands was obtained by the Minister with the full concurrence of the joint committee for the purpose of the establishment of a regional sanatorium of 1,000 beds and there was no question whatever of the exercise of compulsory powers. The establishment of the sanatorium is being pushed forward with all possible expedition. Considerable progress has already been made with its planning and it is hoped to proceed early next year with site development works, that is, the layout of the roads, the provision of an internal sewerage system and the laying of water mains to connect the site with the public water supply. These works can be carried out in advance of the construction of the sanatorium which it is hoped will be commenced in the latter half of 1946.
It will be necessary to demolish the existing buildings on the estate and the occupiers of the cottages thereon have already been notified that they will have to find alternative accommodation. On the 12th May last the Committee of Management of the Grangegorman Mental Hospital informed the tenants that no guarantee could be given that they would be permitted to remain in occupation after the lands were taken over by the State. On 3rd August, 1945, the Grangegorman Mental Hospital Committee terminated the tenancies as from 31st August, 1945. In order to avoid immediate dispossession, the former tenants were permitted to remain in occupation as caretakers and were again warned that possession would be required at an early date.
It became evident on 31st October that the occupiers were not making any effort to secure alternative accommodation and on 2nd instant the Chief State Solicitor on my direction informed them that possession would be required not later than 31st January, 1946. Every consideration consistent with the earliest possible provision of beds for tuberculosis patients will be given to the occupiers, but it must be made clear that their occupation of the cottages will be terminated at an early date.
The former tenants should realise the position and I trust that a satisfactory arrangement will be made by them within the time indicated for handling over vacant possession of the cottages.
I might add that I have asked the county commissioner to give special consideration to the position in which the occupiers of these cottages find themselves, and, as I have already assured Deputy Patrick Burke who interviewed me in the matter, everything possible will be done to assist them in securing alternative accommodation.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary say where are these people to go if there is not accommodation for them in the area or even in the City of Dublin? Will he still proceed to evict them from their homes without alternative accommodation being provided?
I have nothing to add.
Where are they to go? There is no place available for them in the City of Dublin or in the area in which they live. Are you going to evict them?
I am going to provide a sanatorium.
Are you going to evict them after 40 years' residence there?