asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether his attention has been directed to the manner in which some of the public utility societies established consequent on the Housing (Financial and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1932, are being conducted, and if he will cause strict inquiry to be made into their activities with a view to eliminating those which are functioning for the benefit of their promoters rather than for that of their members.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Public Utility Societies' Activities.
My attention has been called to certain irregularities in connection with the operations of one public utility society under the Housing (Financial and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1932, and I have given directions in that instance that no grants be paid to the society until it conforms with the rules governing such societies.
Has the Minister's attention been drawn to the allegations that certain public utility societies are set up for the purpose of coercing inexperienced applicants for the housing grants to buy their building supplies from individuals interested in public utility societies?
No, I have heard nothing about that.
Will the Minister make inquiries as to whether such abuses exist, because if he does he will find, I think, that they exist on a pretty wide scale in different parts of the country.
If the Deputy gives me any information I shall have inquiries made.
If the Minister will inquire in his own Department he will find that there was a case in the law courts recently in the course of the hearing of which moderately severe strictures were passed by the judge; and I think the Minister will have no difficulty in finding that numbers of public utility societies are run by building contractors?
There is no such information available.
I shall do my best to get it and forward it to the Minister.