asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will state the terms of tenancy agreements made by the former Great Northern Railway Board with their employees who occupied houses owned by the Board.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tenancy Agreements on former G.N.R.
13.
I have no information in this matter which was one of day-to-day administration for the Great Northern Railway Board prior to the 1st October, 1958 when the G.N.R. undertaking in the State was transferred to C.I.E. and the Industrial Engineering Co. Ltd., pursuant to the Great Northern Railway Act 1958. The houses at Dundalk Works are now vested in the Industrial Engineering Co. Ltd. and those elsewhere in C.I.E. The Deputy may wish to address his enquiry to whichever of these concerns is appropriate.
Is the Minister aware that the former Minister for Industry and Commerce, the Taoiseach, stated in this House that these houses would be divided as between the D.E.W. and C.I.E. and—the Taoiseach did not say this, but it is implied in the G.N.R. Bill of 1958—that all obligations and contracts which had been made by the former G.N.R. Board would be met by C.I.E.? Is the Minister further aware that tenants are being coerced to purchase these houses which are at present owned by the D.E.W., irrespective of whether or not they wish to purchase them? They are not being given the option of remaining as tenants as was the position prior to amalgamation.
I am not so aware. This is a matter of day-to-day administration by the two companies, as I have already indicated to the Deputy, and I am not aware that there has been an element of coercion and no information has come to my Department in that connection.
Is the Minister aware that there is a proviso in the G.N.R. Bill of 1958 which says that all obligations shall be honoured by C.I.E. if they are charged with the responsibility of any previous function of the G.N.R. Board? If the former G.N.R. Board under the terms of their tenancy agreements could not force tenants to buy houses, which they are not willing to buy, how can C.I.E. or the D.E.W. do it now under that Bill?
I have no information that the two companies concerned are not carrying out their duties as instructed under the two Acts.
With your permission, sir, I should like to raise this question on the adjournment.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.