I move the amendment standing in my name:
In sub-section (1), line 9, to delete the figures "1934" and substitute the following: "1939 or after three years from the date of the death of a person to whom such compensation was awarded, whichever of these dates is the earlier."
The date in respect of which it is proposed to stop any payment for compensation or any part of compensation as mentioned in the Act is 30th September, 1934. I take it that this Bill will not become law before 1st August, possibly later even than 1st August, so that normally when we are considering a question of reconstruction, restoration of damaged property or anything of that sort, that leaves very little over 12 months for the getting of plans, specifications and tenders, and the acceptance of contracts. I should say that not much more than half an ordinary building would be constructed in that time, except in the case of the smaller house. In the case of any fairly considerable dwelling house or other property of that sort it is unlikely that it would be possible to reconstruct it within the period, so that the date as it stands is not a fair date if it be simply a question of giving notice. I have had some experience of that myself, and I should say that it would take 18 months, from the time of giving instructions, to construct and go into the house. It sometimes happens that there is a lapse of time between the issue of the last certificate and the date for payment of it, and if we take that into account I should say that the period might run very close into two years. It may not absorb the whole of it, but it would certainly take 18 months to give even fair notice. If that be the intention that date is rather early.
That is not so much the subject of my amendment as the fact that in certain cases persons who own property at present may have no immediate intention of reconstruction or anything of that sort, but their heirs or successors might; or, if we were to take a more extreme case, the present conditions do not lend themselves to people making up their minds about buildings. I have put down the year 1939, which gives five years from this date. No mention has been made of any limitation during the last ten years since the first Act was passed. A limitation of time ought to be put in and I put in a period of half that which has run. The section says:
Notwithstanding anything contained in any other Act, no payment shall be made after the 30th day of September, 1934, in respect of any compensation awarded by the compensation (Ireland) Commission or by a decree made under the Principal Act, ...
This is an extension of the original Act and, so far as the necessity for reconstruction is concerned, the same principle does not run through this Act as ran through the Compensation (Ireland) Commission or the previous Act. It is not mandatory now upon reconstruction.
The Minister said the first day that reconstruction was not an essential feature. While we are giving generously with one hand, it is not good form to say in respect of other people who have been without these dwelling-houses for so long that we will only allow them to get compensation up to, but not after, the 30th September, 1934, or even part of the compensation. The other portion of the amendment deals with a case where compensation was awarded to an individual and a successor enters into possession of the property. In that case the period is limited to three years so that the successor would make up his mind within three years as to whether or not he would reconstruct the property. I think the amendment is reasonable. It is much on the lines of the suggestion I made on a previous stage of the Bill.
