asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state if he proposes to take any action in cases where tenants of county council houses are under notice to quit by County Managers for having shops in the houses; and if he will consider allowing such tenants to continue their shops if willing to pay increased rent and amount of subsidy on their houses, particularly in the cases of those who have no other means of livelihood.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tenants in County Council Houses.
Dwellings provided by local authorities are intended for use as single dwellings and in the allocation of tenants they are required to give preference to certain classes of families. It follows, therefore, that sub-letting of a dwelling or the utilisation of portion of the dwelling for the carrying on of any kind of trade should not be permitted. Local bodies generally include in letting agreements a clause prohibiting the use of a dwelling for trade purposes. The enforcement of its terms rests with the local authority and the Minister for Local Government and Public Health is not empowered to take direct action. In the case of a dwelling in respect of which a State contribution towards loan charges would ordinarily be payable, I may point out that if a portion of the house is devoted to trade purposes, then the manner in which the house is used renders it ineligible for subsidy.