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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 11 Jul 1929

Vol. 31 No. 5

In Committee on Finance. - Trim Urban District Council (Dissolution) Bill, 1929—Second and Final Stages.

As I explained on the introduction of this measure, the statutory period of three years during which the Commissioner in Trim could continue to carry out the work of the Urban District Council expired on 16th July. The necessary order was issued for the holding of an election of the council, but no one was nominated. The matter was then reported to the County Council so that they might take statutory steps to secure the carrying on of the Urban Council's affairs. The County Council, at a meeting held on 1st July, passed the following resolution:

On consideration of the matter, and in view of the reluctance of the electors of the Trim Urban District to depart from the system of administration by Commissioner, it was proposed, seconded, and passed nem con:

That the Meath County Council take no action under Article 7 of the Schedule to the Local Government (Application of Enactments) Order, 1898, to provide for the continuance of the administration of the Trim Urban District.

The position in which I find myself is that, in order that the affairs of this sanitary area may be carried on, it is necessary to have statutory powers to continue the Commissioner there for another period. There is no other way of dealing with the matter except by legislation in this House. In dealing with a similar case in connection with Ennis, I pointed out that the people there were prepared to consider the position in general and to make representation as to how the affairs of the town should be carried on. The matter is one which affects towns generally throughout the country. In Trim the position is that you have a population of 1,325 inhabitants, that number having been reduced by 11 per cent. since 1911, and the question must arise whether a town of that kind shall be either de-urbanised, or whether such towns must have their affairs carried on in a different way to that prevailing in the past. There is no option at present to do anything except to continue the statutory period of the Commissioner there. The Bill makes provision to continue the Commissioner for another period of three years.

I would like to know from the Minister why special provision is made for Trim, while in the case of Granard, when representations were made to him, similar arrangements were not made for that town. Apparently the reason that Trim got a Commissioner originally was because the people were not able to balance their budget. That also obtained in Granard, and representations were made to the Minister. I am not saying anything in favour of the Commissioner system, but what they wanted in Granard was to de-urbanise the area and bring it under the Board of Health. I want to ask the Minister why he makes a law for Trim but does not deal with the question of Granard at all. He tells them to carry on in the hopelessness in which they find themselves.

I have nothing to say in regard to the position in Granard. We necessarily have to deal with all these different problems that arise on the merits of the case. What we will try and do in the case of Granard is to do the best possible thing in the interests of the local people and for the purpose of securing the better carrying on of the affairs of the area. In the case of Trim, however, we have nothing else to do at present but to continue the Commissioner system. The question of de-urbanising Trim may be considered, but it is quite possible that legislation might have to be passed to have that carried into effect. From the facts that Deputies have before them, they know that the inhabitants of Ennis, the principal town in Co. Clare, considered that a change was necessary in the way in which the urban affairs might be carried on. Now you have the people of Trim coming to the same conclusion in regard to the carrying on of their affairs. Thus it is clear that there is a problem which has to be tackled throughout the country generally. The policy of the Department has not been to run too rapidly ahead of the people's ideas and needs, and the position in this matter has been carefully considered; but it is much too early yet to say anything about the lines on which a solution may be sought.

Bill read a Second Time and passed through its remaining Stages.

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