asked the Minister for Finance if he will state what is the aggregate amount of property compensation awards paid or reported for payment in respect of County Tirconaill; whether all such claims put forward have been considered and reported on; whether in accordance with a special minute, were all such claims contested at the hearing by the County Council through their solicitor; (4) are all reported amounts subject to revision; are they being so revised before payment is ordered; and (5) if he is aware that allegations abound that the reported amounts in many cases are excessive.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - TIRCONAILL COMPENSATION CLAIMS.
I assume the Deputy's question refers to compensation for property destroyed after the 11th July, 1921, and on or before 12th May, 1923, the period covered by the Damage to Property (Compensation) Acts. The amount paid in Co. Tirconaill in respect of such property is £11,244 11s. 11d. I regret that I have not statistics as to the total amount of awards made to date by the County Court Judge. All the claims put forward have not yet, so far as I am aware, been adjudicated on.
With regard to the third part of the question, I have no information about the special minute referred to. All applications are opposed on behalf of the Finance Department by the State Solicitor for Co. Tirconaill. I assume that in the fourth part of his question the Deputy refers to cases in which reports are made by the County Court Judge under Section 15 of the Damage to Property (Compensation) Act, 1923. Such reports are examined in the Finance Department, and the amount recommended by the judge will be carefully considered in each individual case before payment is authorised. I have been informed of the allegations to which the Deputy refers in the fifth part of his question, and I shall be glad to be put in possession of definite information relating to individual cases.
Is the Minister aware that the County Court Judge is reported to have stated that, where the damage fell on the ratepayers of the county, he scrutinised the claims very carefully, but where it was paid by the State he allowed himself to be more generous? Will special supervision be given to these reports?
I believe the State Solicitor in each case forwards a report to the Finance Department or the Chief State Solicitor, as to the advisability of having appeals in cases where the amounts awarded appear to be extravagant. I should say that we are informed by the State Solicitor in reference to Tirconaill the amount recommended exceeds very much what might be regarded as reasonable. The figure I have got is 100 per cent., which I do not believe.