asked the Minister for Finance if he can state (a) the estimated amount of the Saorstát liability for pre-Truce claims for damage to property, (b) the amount of post-Truce reported cases still unpaid, (c) the amount of post-Truce decrees still unpaid, (d) the total amount of post-Truce claims lodged but as yet unheard.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - SAORSTAT LIABILITY FOR PRE-TRUCE CLAIMS.
According to the information at present at my disposal, the liability of the Saorstát in respect of pre-Truce damage to property may be estimated at about £3,500,000.
The total amount recommended by judges in reports received in the Ministry of Finance under Section 15 of the Damage to Property (Compensation) Act, 1923, and still unpaid, is approximately £221,600. Many of these reports are subject to a reinstatement condition, and can be paid out only as the work of reconstruction proceeds. The amount of post-Truce decrees received in the Ministry and still unpaid is approximately £10,500. In a number of cases which have been adjudicated on the judge's decrees or reports have not yet been received in my Department.
I regret that it would not be possible without considerable time and labour to give the amount of post-Truce claims lodged but as yet unheard. A very rough estimate would be about £12,000,000.
Arising out of that answer, can the Minister say whether any of the reports have been yet paid?
Advances have been made, but no reports have been paid in full.
Advances on reports?
Yes.