asked the Minister for Local Government whether he will take steps to enable local authorities to make payment for housing sites compulsorily acquired, quickly and without having to comply with all the unnecessary red tape regulations at present imposed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Acquisition of Housing Sites.
The procedure governing the compulsory acquisition of land is either statutory or governed by rules under statutory enactments. It is designed to protect the interests of the several parties concerned. Alterations in the statutory procedure would necessitate legislation and changes in the rules would be a matter for the Land Values Reference Committee and the Minister for Justice. In view of the considerations involved, I would not be prepared to recommend any change in the present procedure.
Does the Minister consider three and a half years a fair period for a person to wait for a piece of land?
The Minister considers that difficulties of this nature will undoubtedly arise from time to time but having regard to the amount of consideration that has been given to this question all down the years and to the fact that it is desirable to protect those from whom property is being acquired and give them certain rights it is not an easy matter to amend the existing procedure without infringing upon those rights, rights for the preservation of which most of us here would take a determined stand.
Only one person has been paid out of 500 in three years.
Is the Minister aware that in many cases where payment has not been made it is due to the fact that title has not been submitted either by the owners or the solicitors acting for the owners and I think it is unfair to blame the Department for that?