To ask the Minister for Finance whether he is aware that many traders and others in the towns of Mallow and Fermoy, Co. Cork, whose premises were burnt out by Black and Tans in September, 1920, are most anxious to start rebuilding those premises and are prepared to start this work and give employment to many men —who have been out of work now for a considerable period—the moment the Minister makes his awards; whether the Minister can state definitely when those awards will be made, and also whether any awards have been made by his Department to persons in Mallow or other areas whose premises or property was destroyed in 1921? If so, can the Minister inform the Dáil whether these people are now reconstructing and why the claims of 1920 are being held up while the claims of 1921 are investigated and awarded.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. - DESTROYED PREMISES IN MALLOW AND FERMOY.
I think the Deputy is under a misapprehension as to the position in regard to compensation. In cases of malicious damage to property inflicted within the period 21st January, 1919, to 11th July, 1921, where no final decree exists or where the Council of the County or County Borough in whose area the damage occurred did not appear in Court by Counsel or Solicitor in opposition to the claim, compensation is determined by the Compensation (Ireland) Commission and is paid by the Minister of Finance. Payment is made as soon as possible after notification and, generally speaking, in the order of notification.
It is not possible to define the order in which particular cases may mature for payment, but there has been no discrimination in favour of any particular year.
Up to the present awards have been received in nine cases in the town of Mallow, and in one of these, in which the amount involved was £57,700, payment was made four months ago. In the other cases the amount involved is comparatively small and does not in any case exceed £150. These will be paid in due course without avoidable delay.
Approximately 45 other cases in the town of Mallow have been registered in my Ministry, but still await determination. It is not for me to say in what order the commission will have them investigated, but they must obviously be guided to a certain extent by the conditions existing in the particular areas.
No awards to owners of property in the town of Fermoy have as yet been notified by the Commission.
Cases where final decrees exist and where the Council of the County or County Borough appeared in Court by Counsel or Solicitor in opposition to the claims are not subject to review and are paid by the Minister of Finance on application by the holders of such decrees. I have received notice of no such cases in the town of Mallow, and of 16 in the town of Fermoy. In four of these cases I have caused advertisement of intention to pay to be issued in the usual way in the "Irish Oifigiuil," and the remaining cases are at present under investigation in my Department.