asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware that tenants of labourers' cottages in South Kerry have been informed by the Kerry County Council that they are no longer entitled to have repairs to their cottages carried out by the council owing to the fact that they are deemed now to be vested tenants; whether he is further aware that the tenants concerned are thus placed in a very difficult position; and, if so, whether he will arrange to have a scheme introduced by local authorities whereby such tenants will be assisted in carrying out repairs for which they now have become responsible.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Repair of Kerry Cottages.
Before making an Order vesting a cottage in the tenant, the county council is required to see that the cottage is in good repair and sanitary condition and any doubt, dispute or question which may arise in this connection is determined by the Minister. Once the vesting Order is made, the repair of the cottage becomes the responsibility of the purchaser, it being a statutory condition of every such Order that the cottage shall be kept in good sanitary condition and repair during the payment period of the purchase annuity. I am not aware that this condition, which is an essential feature of the cottage purchase scheme, has the effect suggested by the Deputy in view of the provision regarding the repair of cottages prior to vesting and the very favourable terms on which cottages are purchased.
In view of the controversy which has centred on this point between the tenants and the county council, could the Minister see his way to arrange to have these cottages inspected? The Minister may be in a position to look up the correspondence and, if he does so, he may find that on a previous occasion there was a suggestion by the former Minister that an inspector might be sent down there. I do not know why that suggestion did not materialise. If the Minister can now see his way to arrange that an inspector will visit the county and make inspections in relation to the claims in question, we shall be very grateful.
Before a tenant becomes a tenant purchaser he is required to sign an agreement in which he sets out that the repairs have been duly executed. Neither the Minister nor the local authority have any further statutory power to effect repairs after the purchase agreement has been signed.
Some of the tenants in question claim that they have not signed this purchase agreement and that they were deemed to have purchased on the report of the county engineer. In view of that aspect of the matter, would the Minister not agree that some investigation should be carried out on behalf of the tenants concerned?
Either the tenants signed the agreement or they did not. If they did, the Minister has no statutory function. If they did not, there is a criminal side of the court to deal with forgeries such as the Deputy alleges.