I move that the Bill be now read a Second Time.
Local Government Provisional Order Confirmation Bill, 1959 [Seanad]—Second Stage.
The purpose of this Bill is to confirm the Provisional Order set out in the Schedule, i.e., the Borough of Wexford (Alteration of Boundary) Order, 1959, which was made by the Minister for Local Government on 16th January, 1959.
The area of the Borough of Wexford at present is 505 acres. The Provisional Order proposes to add to the borough a contiguous portion of the county health district amounting in all to approximately 68 acres. The purpose of the extension is primarily to facilitate the carrying out of the corporation's housing programme. It is reasonable that the houses built by a local authority should be within the area over which it has jurisdiction but the building land remaining within the present borough boundary is insufficient for the purposes of the corporation's housing programme. The corporation have already acquired most of the land proposed to be added to the borough and have constructed houses on approximately half of that land. Plans have been prepared for the construction of further houses on the remaining half of the land and financial, engineering and administrative difficulties could arise if the land involved were to remain outside the area of jurisdiction of the corporation.
The whole question was discussed at a public inquiry held at Wexford on 29th July, 1958. The Wexford County Council was represented at that inquiry and raised no objection to the proposal. Three private landowners affected by the proposal did not attend the inquiry and, presumably, do not object to the alteration of the boundary.
The Provisional Order contains provision for the adjustment of property, rights and liabilities by agreement between the county council and the corporation. Should they fail to reach agreement the adjustment will be made by a person appointed by me. Other usual provisions included in the Order relate to the preparation of maps, valuation lists and the registration of electors.
It may be too late, and it may be useless, to protest at this stage, but, in order to safeguard the position in the future, not alone in regard to Wexford but also in relation to any other similar town in similar circumstances, I should like to protest now against the extraordinary delay that took place in dealing with this application for an extension of the borough boundary. I do not say that in criticism of either the Minister or the Department, but, as far as I can remember, the extension was suggested about five or six years ago. The real ground for my protest is that we had local government elections in 1955 and hundreds—hundreds is not an exaggeration—of people were deprived of a vote in those elections. I suggest that is a very serious matter for them.
The Minister said that the primary object of the Bill was to facilitate Wexford Corporation in the building of houses and in their building programme generally. Their building programme has been so curtailed of late that I do not know that the extension of the boundary now will greatly facilitate them. Any housing that is being done at the present time is being done within the old boundary.
I should like to ask the Minister to ensure that there will not be such a long delay in future. It is a serious thing for voters to be deprived of an opportunity of exercising the franchise. That happened in the case of hundreds of voters in Bishopswater and Corish Park. Now that this matter has reached a conclusion, I trust that these people will be able to vote in the local elections to be held next year. There should be some quicker method of including in a borough area people who have been housed by the borough, in this case, Wexford Corporation.
So far as these delays about which the Deputy has complained are concerned, not only am I aware of them, but I shall look into them. I realise the inconvenience they can cause and I appreciate the inconvenience they have caused in the case of Wexford. If there are any steps that can be taken to ensure that these delays will not occur in future, the Deputy may rest assured that they will be taken.
It is particularly desirable where the extension includes houses built by the corporation.
We shall bear that in mind.
Question put and agreed to.
Bill put through Committee, reported without amendment, received for final consideration and passed.