asked the Minister for Lands and Fisheries whether he is aware that Farrell Lavelle, of Dooega, Achill, with five others, obtained a loan from the Department for the purchase of a fishing boat and nets; that those fishermen have now been proceeded against for the recovery of certain instalments alleged to be due on this loan, but which have been already paid, and the payment of which has been traced through the Post Office to the Department of Fisheries; whether he is aware that those fishermen have failed to get any acknowledgment either of the receipt of their money or of subsequent letters of inquiry concerning it; and whether he will state if it is intended to take action to stop legal proceedings in the matter, or, if not, what action it is intended to take.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - ACHILL FISHERMEN'S LOANS.
MINISTER for LANDS and FISHERIES
I am aware that the fishermen referred to obtained a loan from my Department in May, 1927. As neither of the two instalments which had accrued had been received by my Department the collection has been put in the hands of the Chief State Solicitor. My Department has no knowledge of the alleged loss in post of the remittance referred to, as the borrowers have never reported it, and in fact they have ignored all communications from my Department in reference to their debt. I am having inquiries made from the Department of Posts and Telegraphs in the matter, and will communicate the result to the Deputy. The Deputy does not say whether it was postal order, money order, or cheque.
I am not aware whether it was postal order or otherwise, but I am aware that the fishermen have traced their money, which was registered, through the post to the Fishery Department. It is a very peculiar thing that the Minister is not able to say whether they received it or not. The fishermen stated to me that they replied twice, and they refused to pay a subsequent instalment until they got an acknowledgment of their money. Both registered packets were traced by the Westport Post Office to the Fishery Department.
It is strange that the Post Office has no knowledge of the money being received. The money has not been received in my Department. The fishermen refused to answer any communications in connection with their instalments.