asked the Minister for Finance if he will state what are the qualifications deemed necessary in the case of appointments as assessors on compensation claims under the Damage to Property (Compensation) Act, 1923, and, further, in the assessment of claims, if he will state what instructions are issued to assessors for the consideration of first assessments on lodged claims.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - COMPENSATION CLAIMS ASSESSORS.
SEAN O DUINNIN
The qualifications considered necessary in persons appointed for the investigation of claims under the Damage to Property (Compensation) Act, 1923, depended on the nature of the claims for the assessment of which each individual was being employed. In general, I may say that every effort was made to secure the services of men whose integrity could be relied upon and who were fully competent to investigate such claims as might be referred to them.
Claims for structural damage were investigated by qualified architects. The Board of Works employed a number of additional men in 1923 on a temporary basis; most of these men were selected from among a large number of applicants by a small selection board. They were instructed orally by the Board of Works on the provisions of the Act and on the general course of conduct to be observed, and, in addition, general instructions were issued to them and to all the Board's architects from time to time. Such instructions are of necessity lengthy and detailed, but if the Deputy has any particular point in mind, I shall be glad to look into it if he will give me notice. Claims for amounts of any magnitude were investigated by the Board's permanent local officers, and practically all reports by architects were submitted to the headquarters of the Board, so as to secure a uniform standard of assessment.
Arising out of my question, I wish to ask the Minister whether he instructed this Mr. Galvin, through the State Solicitor, Mr. Casey, to say they were only allowed to give 10 per cent. on the original assessment in my case, and whether the Minister will deny that they were giving 49 or 50 per cent. increase on other cases at the time, last April twelve months?
I do not know that I fully grasp the Deputy's question, but I think it is the sort of one that ought to be set down separately.