asked the Minister for Defence if he is aware that the Tóstal Committee in Athgarvan, County Kildare, in an effort to arrange features in harmony with the spirit of An Tóstal borrowed certain flooring for crossroads dancing and that they are now being charged £30 therefor and if, in view of the purpose for which this flooring was used, he will remit the charge.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Charge for An Tóstal Feature (County Kildare).
I am aware that the Tóstal Committee in Athgarvan hired flooring from Army stores and that a charge of £30 was made for the loan.
As the committee was notified of the conditions on which the flooring would be provided and accepted the terms, I am not prepared to remit the charge.
Is the Minister aware that the flooring in question was fairly old and, if he will not remit the entire charge, would he remit a portion of it? It would hardly be worth £30 in all.
The position is that it was made very, very clear to the committee what their responsibilities would be. They took the floors on a certain undertaking and then held them for a period of almost three weeks, which was quite unreasonable, and that is where the extra charge is now coming in. They did not return them. They were hired on an undertaking that they would pay £10 per week.
But the Tóstal was for a period of three weeks and it was for the whole period of the Tóstal that these floors were hired.
Other committees had similar undertakings and have all honoured them. It is up to Athgarvan to do the same.