andMr. McAuliffe asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state what arrangements have been made for the collection of rates in Millstreet and Blarney, County Cork rate districts, in view of the fact that he has twice refused to permit the county council to retain in their employment the two rate collectors for those areas because they have reached the limited retiring age and has failed to sanction the appointments of two new rate collectors appointed by the council on his direction.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Cork Rate Collectors.
It is a matter for the Cork County Council to make arrangements for the collection of rates in the areas referred to. No proposal was made to me by the local authority either to retain the retiring rate collectors or to sanction the appointment of successors to them.
Is it not a fact that the Minister refused to sanction an extension of time for the two former rate collectors? Is it not a fact that a letter to that effect was sent to the Cork County Council under the Minister's name?
Is it not a fact that Cork County Council on two occasions unanimously requested the Minister to grant an extension of time to the two former collectors in these areas?
It is a fact that I receive requests of this nature from county councils all over the country. The reply which I made to the request which came from Cork was the same as the replies which issue to other county councils.
Is it not a fact that Cork County Council on two occasions unanimously passed a resolution asking the Minister to grant an extension of time to the two rate collectors in these areas, that the Minister refused to agree to the request and informed that body they should take steps to appoint rate collectors to fill the vacancies created and gave his sanction?
If such resolutions were received by me or my Department from Cork County Council they were similar in tone and in every other respect to resolutions which reach me from other county councils. The replies which issued to these requests from Cork, irrespective of whether the requests were unanimous or otherwise, were in exactly the same terms as the replies which issue to county councils all over the country.
Is it not a fact that when the county council received the reply from the Minister, having written to him twice, that he would not agree to sanction the retention of these two officials they appointed further rate collectors at his direction? The position now is that in these two areas there is nobody to collect the rates. The Minister is getting out of his responsibility and is putting it back on the council. He has put the council in a most awkward position.
As a member of the council, Deputy Lehane, no doubt, has more information as to the position than I have. All I know is that no proposal to appoint successors has reached me.