asked the Minister for Local Government whether a council of a county has power to deduct the amount of rates outstanding from a council road worker's wages where he has failed to pay his rates within the fixed period; and, if so, the Act and section giving the council collector such authority.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Road Workers' Wages: Deductions for Rates.
28.
Section 58 of the Local Government Act, 1941, provides that where a sum is due to any person by a local authority and, at the same time, a sum is due to such local authority by such person in respect of rates, the former sum may be set off against the latter either in whole or in part.
Would the Minister say whether that power includes the right not to pay the man the wages the county council owes?
It is specifically stated in the Act of 1941 that where money is owing for rates to a local authority and where money from the same local authority is owing to the person who is indebted to the local authority, one sum may be set off against the other in whole or in part.