asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that portion of the bonus of 5/- per week awarded under the recent Emergency Powers Order to certain corporation tenants at Spangle Hill and Gurranebraher, County Cork, was rendered valueless to them by reason of the imposition by the City Manager of an increased rental on their dwellings; that this bonus was granted owing to an exist ing increase in the cost of living and that its effect in increasing their rents was not taken into consideration; if so, if he will state what steps, if any, he has taken to remedy this hardship to such persons.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cork Corporation Tenants' Bonus.
asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that the members of the Cork Corporation unanimously recommended to the City Manager that in computing family income for rent purposes the recent wage bonus should not be considered as it was granted to meet the increased cost of living; if so, if he will favourably consider intervening, if necessary by legislation, so that the view of the Cork Borough Council in this matter may prevail.
I propose to take questions Nos. 4 and 5 together. I have been informed that a committee of the Cork Corporation recently recommended that any emergency bonus or increase of wages not exceeding 8/- per week be ignored in fixing differential rents payable by tenants of corporation houses and that this recommendation was unanimously adopted by the corporation on the 28th ultimo. It is understood that the basis of fixing differential rents will be modified accordingly so as to give effect to the recommendation but a proposal to that effect has not yet reached my Department.
Is the Minister aware that when these people applied to the tribunal for a bonus, no question of increased rent was taken into consideration by the tribunal; that a grave wrong has been inflicted on people who are actually poverty-stricken? I would like that steps would be taken urgently in the matter, so as to avoid any further friction.
I do not think the Deputy has quite grasped the meaning of the reply. The reply in short is this: That it has been decided by the corporation that the 8/- bonus should be ignored in fixing the differential rents. I understand the manager is accepting that position, and will in due course submit a recommendation to that effect to the Department. If so, it will be sanctioned. The delay, I understand, has arisen because other matters have been raised by the tenants in relation to this matter, and they are all under consideration by the same committee.
I will deal with the rest after.