asked the Minister for Justice if he will now state the number of evictions carried out by the city sheriff in the last 12 months (a) in the Dublin City area; (b) in the Dublin South Central Constituency area; (c) if it is intended to introduce proposals for legislation of a temporary nature to suspend the powers of the sheriff to carry out evictions for a period of 12 months save in expected cases.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Evictions in Dublin City and County.
The relevant figures for the City of Dublin for the year 1948 are as follows:—
|
Total number of haberes and ejectment decrees lodged with the sheriff |
144 |
|
Number of cases in which possession was given up |
106 |
|
Cases stopped, withdrawn or settled |
35 |
|
Cases still in hands of the sheriff |
3 |
Seperate figures are not readily available for the area comprised in the Dublin South-Central Constituency.
It was only in about one-sixth of those cases in which possession was given up that it was found necessary to resort to eviction in the sense of physically removing the parties concerned and their possesions. That this was so is due, in no small measure, to the tact and patience with which the sheriff discharges his onerous and difficult duties.
The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative. If, as I imagine, the type of case in which the Deputy is chiefly interested is that in which sub-tenants are ejected in consequence of the sub-letting having been made in breach of a covenant against sub-letting, notwithstanding that they themselves are wholly free from blame, he will be glad to know that I am considering whether and to what extent it may be possible to provide relife in such cases by an appropriate amendment of the law.
Is the Minister aware that in cases other than those sub-letting ejectments, decrees are obtained against tenants who are not in arrears of rent and who give no reasonable cause to their landlords for the institution of ejectment proceedings against them? Can the Minister say whether in any legislation that is envisaged appropriate steps will be taken to safeguard tenants of this nature?
The matter is under examination and I cannot at this stage give any further information to the Deputy than I have already given. I am considering the matter.
Deputies C. Lehane and Larkin rose.
Question No. 7. There are 79 question on the Order Paper for answer to-day.