asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he is aware that under the existing law persons alleging that their property has been damaged maliciously are enabled to recover from the local authority compensation for such damage as ascertained by the Judge of the Circuit Court; whether compensation for so-called malicious damage to property is levied off the ratepayers in any other European country or in any country within the British Commonwealth of Nations; whether he is aware of the circumstances in which the legislation making the ratepayers in the Saorstát liable for the payment of compensation was enacted, and if in view of the injustice to the ratepayers arising from its application he is prepared to take steps to secure its repeal at an early date.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Malicious Damage Compensation.
I am aware that compensation for criminal injuries can be recovered from local authorities and am also aware of the circumstances in which the existing law on the subject originated. I do not know whether the law in any other country makes similar provision for the recovery of compensation. The question of repealing the law is not at present under consideration.