asked the Minister for Justice if his attention has been drawn to the offering for sale, with possession, of a ten-roomed house in Marlborough Street, Dublin, containing over 3,000 square feet of floor space, for use for office, warehouse or factory purposes; and whether, to prevent tenants being dispossessed from their rooms, and in view of the scarcity of building materials for working-class homes, he will introduce proposals for legislation to stop evictions from residential premises for the purpose of converting such residential premises for business purposes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Eviction of Tenants.
The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I understand that the house advertised for sale is at present vacant.
So far as the Deputy's suggestion for amending legislation relates to the law governing the relationship of landlord and tenant, I am advised that the existing law, as contained in Section 37 of the Rent Restrictions Act, 1946, restricting landlords' rights to recover possession of controlled premises, is adequate to meet any such development as the Deputy mentions. So far as the matter is one affecting the user of residential premises, whether occupied or vacant, I would refer the Deputy to the provisions of Section 8 of the Housing (Amendment) Bill, 1947, under which it is proposed to prohibit the demolition of a habitable house or its use otherwise than as a dwellinghouse, unless the owner obtains the necessary permission from the appropriate housing authority or from the Minister for Local Government.
Would the Minister answer the last part of the question— if he will introduce proposals for legislation to stop evictions from residential premises for the purpose of converting such residential premises for business purposes? There is nothing in the 1947 Bill about evictions and they are wholesale in Dublin at the moment. There are 14 threatened evictions in Marlborough Street out of tenement houses.
Mr. Boland
I do not know whether the Deputy wants to take any notice of my answer or not. I am advised that if the tenants stand on the rights under the Rent Restrictions Act, 1946, it is very unlikely that they ever can be evicted, but if they go out under threats there is nothing that the Act can do for them.
That is just the point. They are going out under threats. Will the Minister do something to prevent landlords from threatening these very poor people in single room tenements and stop evictions? There are 14 threatened in Marlborough Street to-day.
Mr. Boland
I cannot force people to assert their rights. If the law is there and they will not avail of its provisions, I cannot do anything.
I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Adjournment and try to go more clearly into it, in the hope that there may be some satisfaction for them.
Would it be possible for the Minister, where there are poor people who obviously do not know the finesse of the law, to take some precaution that those under notice of eviction be advised that they have a right if they wish to resist and that they will be fully protected and vindicated if they choose to put it to the test?
Mr. Boland
In regard to tenants of that particular class, I think the Deputy realises there is a special part of the Rent Restrictions Act which applies to them. A court has been set up where there are practically no charges or costs. It has been in operation since the first of this month and we have done everything in our power to advertise that fact. I do not see what more could be done. They can go there and make their case before the clerk of the court. If we could get Press publicity for what is being said here to-day, people might know more about it. I do not know that anything more can be done.
Except to give them notice of their rights.
Mr. Boland
We have advertised it as much as we possibly could.
I know about it only now—thanks to Deputy Byrne.