The object of the Bill which I am asking the Dáil to read a second time is to renew for a year the Act passed last year dealing with the compulsory acquisition of premises for the accommodation of the Civic Guard. The position at the moment is that out of a total establishment which provides for 837 stations, there are 756 occupied, leaving 81 to be still acquired and occupied. Now, of 756 occupied almost exactly half—376—are reported as unsuitable as permanent quarters, while 380 are reported as adequate for the permanent accommodation of the Gárda. There were compulsory powers of acquisition under last year's Act, and these were only exercised in 42 cases altogether, and in 16 of these cases the premises in question were already in the occupation of the Guards, and the notice of acquisition was issued only for the purpose of regularising the tenancy and enabling the Commissioners of Public Works to fix terms of tenancy. Of the remaining 26 cases agreement as to terms was reached with the owners in 9 cases, and in 2 cases terms were fixed by the Commissioners in default of agreement. In the remaining 15 cases terms of tenancy have not yet been fixed, the policy of the Commissioners being to exhaust the possibilities of agreement before exercising their statutory powers. In four out of the 16 cases in which the powers of compulsory acquisition were resorted to for the purpose of regularising tenancies, terms were fixed by the Commissioners, and agreement was reached in two cases. The remaining cases are still the subject of negotiations. In none of the cases in which the Commissioners fixed terms of tenancy did the owners exercise the powers of appeal to the Referee provided under Section 5 of last year's Act. In every case in which premises were compulsorily acquired, every precaution was taken that no undue hardship would be inflicted by acquiring the premises. I move the second reading.
PRIVATE BUSINESS. - CIVIC GUARD (ACQUISITION OF PREMISES) AMENDMENT BILL, 1924.—SECOND STAGE.
I would like that the Minister, before we pass this motion, would give the House some information as to the policy of his Department in respect of the building of police barracks which have been destroyed. In going through the country one can see that there are a number of police barracks which were rendered unfit for habitation but which are quite capable of being reconstructed and made habitable, but in regard to which nothing has yet been done towards re-building. One would like to know what the policy of the Department is in regard to the re-construction of the destroyed barracks for police; whether it is the intention of the Ministry to proceed with the re-building of these barracks rather than compulsorily acquiring premises against the desires of the owners, and further action, if any, has been taken to expedite the re-building of barracks, the owners of which have been compensated, and who have been obliged by the terms of the compensation to re-build. Can the Minister tell us how many such barracks are in course of reconstruction, how many are awaiting reconstruction, and how soon he expects to have these reconstructed barracks fit for re-habitation?
Mr. O'HIGGINS
This year's estimates for public works and buildings include a sum of £46,000 for new works, alterations, and additions for Gárda Siochána stations. The amount is made up as follows:—Carrowkeel Barracks restoration, £1,000; Cork Bridewell and ex-R.I.C., £1,000; Cork Union Quay, £8,000; Ennis, £5,600; Maam, £1,400; Mullingar, £3,000, and Tralee, £4,000, and new works under £1,000, £12,000. I have stated that of the 756 stations at present established, 380 are deemed suitable as permanent quarters and 376 unsuitable. The Deputy will realise that even were building on a very wide scale to be undertaken that would not remove the necessity for the present Bill, inasmuch as it is urgent to establish the 81 stations which remain to be established, and it is also urgent to prevent the tenures secured by the Act of last year from running out as they would within a few weeks were we not to pass the present Bill.
Would the Minister not take advantage of the unemployed in renewing some of these barracks? There is one town in particular in which I was last year in which the Minister took great trouble to get the Gárda another house, but eventually he had to exercise his powers and evict an old gentleman 80 years of age who had two doctors' certificates that it was detrimental to his health to go out. The Minister took a lot of trouble to try and get suitable premises, but I think a considerable time elapsed from the time he started to look for the accommodation until finally deciding to take a house. If some premises situated in that particular town had been renovated and the unemployed dole used, it would have accomplished two objects. It would have prevented the old gentleman being turned out and given work to the unemployed.
The Minister has not answered the query put by Deputy Johnson regarding the case of barracks destroyed, and where compensation has been given, involving re-building. Can the Minister say in how many cases where compensation was given for the destruction of old R.I.C. barracks, re-building has taken place which would provide suitable accommodation for the Civic Guard?
Mr. O'HIGGINS
I have not got on my file the facts asked for by Deputies Johnson and Davin, but if they would put down a question I will endeavour to supply the information.
Perhaps the Minister would prepare it before the next reading?
Mr. O'HIGGINS
Yes, or in reply to a question in the meantime.