asked the Minister for Local Government whether regulations prohibiting the operation of a retail shop in dwellings provided by Cork County Council have been made by the council or by him; whether he is aware that a retail shop is being maintained in a dwelling provided by the council at Little Island, County Cork; whether permission for the maintenance of this shop was granted by the council or his Department; and whether in the absence of permission the person maintaining the shop is entitled to maintain it.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Shops in Local Authority Dwellings.
60.
The Housing (Management and Letting) Regulations provide that a letting agreement shall include a provision that the premises shall not be used as a shop, workshop or factory and shall be used only as a dwelling-house. These regulations were made on 22nd February, 1950, and apply to letting agreements entered into after that date.
It is understood from correspondence received in my Department that trading is being carried on in a local authority dwelling at Little Island, Cork. As I have indicated in reply to this correspondence, the matter is not one in which I have any statutory function.
Surely the Minister must have some function, if a regulation made by his Department is contravened?
I have merely quoted the regulations. I have not said this case comes under the regulations.
Do I take it the regulations were made by the Minister's Department?
Yes.
If they are contravened, surely the Minister has an interest in the matter?
I did not say they were being contravened; I merely made a factual statement concerning the case.