asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that each of the tenants in the non-municipal houses built under the auspices of the South Cork Board of Health recently received a notice signed by the secretary notifying the tenant that his rent was to be increased as from 1st day of September by an amount equal to a levy of rates on the house; if he is aware that this new impost brings the rent of some of these houses to almost 10/- per week; further, if he will state-whether such increases had the prior-sanction of his Department, and whether the rents now being charged for those houses are in conformity with the principles of the Agricultural Labourers (Ireland) Acts, under which these houses were built and which lay down that the rents charged should be reasonable.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rents of Non-Municipal Houses.
The answer to the-first part of the question is in the affirmative.
With regard to the latter part of the question, when there is an increase in rates a local authority is authorised by Section 6 of the Local Government (Rates on Small Dwellings) Act, 1928, to vary the rent of a small dwelling to cover the increase in rates. The sanction of my Department is not required to any such increase. I know of no statutes called the Agricultural Labourers (Ireland) Acts, but the Labourers (Ireland) Act of 1906 requires that in fixing rents a local authority shall fix them so as to secure a reasonable return, having regard to the circumstances of the locality affected and the expenditure of the local authority under the Labourers Acts. The highest rent fixed in non-municipal towns in the South Cork area, namely, 7/9 a week plus rates, applies only to houses provided by the local authority in the immediate vicinity of Cork City. The application form submitted by the prospective tenants contains an undertaking to pay the weekly rent "and rates."
asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that at its meeting held on Monday, 20th October, the South Cork Board of Health refused to accede to the request made by a deputation representing tenants in non-municipal houses built under the auspices of the board that a conference of the board with a sub-committee of the representatives of the tenants be held with a view to a revision of the rents charged for those houses which under a new demand from the board range from over 5/- per week to nearly 10/- per week in a number of cases; also, if he is aware that the tenants of the said houses were selected by the county medical officer of health on the ground that their previous residences were either unfit for human habitation or a danger to the health of the occupants by reason of the fact of overcrowding or of being insanitary; further, if he will indicate to the board, considering the high rents now being charged and the fact that the cost of living has increased by 32 per cent. since the outbreak of war while wages have remained static under Emergency Powers (No. 83) Order, the desirability of a revision of these higher rents, or alternatively if he will instruct one of his Department's inspectors to hold an inquiry into the matter.
The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As I have just informed the Deputy in reply to his previous question, a local authority which is the owner of small dwellings as in the present case is authorised by the Local Government (Rates on Dwellings) Act, 1928, to increase the rent of such dwellings by an amount corresponding to the rates assessed payable in respect of each such dwelling. The dwellings referred to in the question were recently provided by the local authority and were let for the first time towards the end of the last financial year; accordingly, they were not assessed to rates for the balance of that year and for that period nothing was chargeable under this head. In due course, when, in the present financial year rates became payable in respect of them, the local authority proceeded, under the Act of 1928, to recover the corresponding amounts from the tenants. My reply to the Deputy's previous question has brought out the fact that the tenants of these houses secured them just a few months ago on the understanding and with full knowledge that, in addition to paying the basic rents which range from 3/6 to 7/9 for their houses, they would also be required to pay a sum corresponding to the rates. In these circumstances I do not see any justification for the course which the Deputy proposes.
Has the Minister taken steps to ascertain if the rent charged yields a profit to the local authority or only covers the bare economic charges?
I am certain the local authority is fulfilling its obligation under the terms of the Act, that is to charge what will be reasonable in the circumstances.
From my experience of other boards I am aware of several instances where boards are making a profit. Will the Minister inquire into that matter?
The matter has been already inquired into.
Were these non-municipal houses built under the Labourers Act of 1906?
Yes, the non-municipal ones.