asked the Minister for Justice whether he is aware that during the past three years ground landlords, especially in Dublin, refuse to renew leases to leaseholders not protected by present legislation unless the leaseholder is prepared to enter into an agreement to pay a new ground rent often five or six times the former rent, and that as many people are unable to enter into a commitment of this kind a number of leaseholders are forced to surrender houses in which their families have resided for half a century; and whether, in the circumstances, he is prepared to introduce proposals for ensuring that no ground rent will be raised during the present emergency on the expiration of an existing lease.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Increase of Ground Rents.
I have no information as to the matters referred to in the question. The Deputy is, no doubt, aware that Part V of the Landlord and Tenant Act, 1931, purported to extend protection to the leaseholders of the type which, I think, he has in mind. In so far as that Act has failed in its purpose, because of technical flaws in drafting or otherwise, a comprehensive effort is being made in the Landlord and Tenant (Amendment) Bill, which is at present before the Oireachtas, to remedy any such flaws, and the protection of Part V is, in fact, being extended to leaseholders to whom the 1931 Act did not apply, namely, leaseholders in non-urban areas. I might add that the Bill is being given retrospective effect so as to benefit any leaseholders who may be still in possession although their leases have already expired.
Apart from cases which will be covered by the present Bill, I do not know to what class of case the Deputy refers in his question. If, however, he is able to let me have particulars of any such cases, I shall have them examined.
Can the Minister say whether any proposed amendment of the 1931 Landlord and Tenant Act will mitigate the hardships suffered by victims of the present ground rent system which I have indicated in the first part of the question?
Mr. Boland
I do not know the people to whom the Deputy refers who are not protected by present legislation.
Is the Minister aware that information is readily available to his Department regarding the types of cases to which I refer? If I undertake to supply the Minister with specific details of such cases, will he undertake to remedy the disabilities of these people?
Mr. Boland
I have already told the Deputy that if he brings any such cases to my notice, I will have them examined and see what can be done. The Deputy is probably not aware that a Bill dealing with some cases passed through the House yesterday. He did not contribute anything to the debate, or indicate in any way that there were any such people as those to whom he refers, but he puts down a question on the day after the Bill has passed the House.