asked the Minister for Local Government if it is mandatory on local authorities to keep non-vested cottages rented by them to tenants in a decent state of repair, and, if so, on whom rests the actual responsibility for such repair.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Repair of Cottages.
The Housing (Management and Letting) Regulations, 1950 and 1953, require housing authorities to keep such cottages in tenantable condition and repair.
To whom does one make representation to have these houses repaired, if one is not a member of the county council? I should like to know on whom it is mandatory to see that this work is carried out.
I understand the Wexford County Council — and I assume it is to that local authority the Deputy is referring — applied some time last year for a loan of £30,000 for the purpose of repairing cottages which, I assume, were in need of repair. In each of the years 1953, 1954 and 1955, the council spent from revenue, which is the customary procedure, sums amounting to approximately £15,000. In 1956, they applied for permission to approach the Local Loans Fund for a loan of £30,000, and because of the situation then existing and of the general practice that had been followed in regard to such applications, such permission was not granted.
Has the Minister authority to see that the repair of these cottages is carried out? Am I, as a Deputy, in a position to make representations to the Minister to see that the work is done?
The Minister has no direct responsibility for the repair of these cottages. Like all other public men, the Deputy is entitled to make representations to the body on whom rests responsibility for the carrying out of these repairs. I gave the Deputy some figures indicating that the council concerned in 1953-54 spent £15,000 odd on 451 cottages; in the following year, £16,000 odd on 468 cottages; and in 1955-56, £16,000 odd on 408 cottages. That did not seem to me to be a bad performance, since these repairs were carried out from revenue, but there may be a number of other cottages in need of repair. It is the responsibility of the body concerned to see that these repairs are carried out.
Is it not a fact that a tenant of a county council cottage has the right to appeal to the Minister, if his cottage is not put into repair prior to vesting?
We are not discussing the matter of vesting. The question addressed to me is one that concerns non-vested cottages.