asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware that public representatives have experienced considerable difficulty in eliciting acknowledgments or replies within reasonable periods to representations made on behalf of constituents to departments within Dublin Corporation; and, if so, if he will take the necessary steps to ensure that the matter is examined and dealt with by the responsible authorities without delay.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Corporation: Replies to Representations.
33.
I am not so aware.
Might I draw the attention of the Minister to the fact that there are serious delays because of failure to answer correspondence? Would he not agree that as members of the public and as members of this House who pay rates or taxes or vote money in this House for the administration of the activities of the Corporation, we have the same right to an expeditious answer to our representations as, on the whole, we tend to get from Government Departments?
I am inclined to agree with the principle enunciated by the Deputy in regard to the rights of Deputies in matters such as this. If the Deputy has experience or knowledge of what his complaints seem to suggest on this question and if he passes it on to me, I shall have it taken up with the Corporation.
Has the Minister ever tried to ring up the Corporation?
It is a secret service
If he has, he will know——
If the Leader of the Opposition would also give me some information——
Try ringing the Corporation yourself.
I have agreed to deal with complaints if they are passed on to me but I have not agreed to try to create them.
As a member of the Corporation, I do not know what Deputy Dillon's difficulty is. I am ringing the Corporation up all day and I get on to them.
May be that is the reason.
I am not ringing them all day—I mean I make contact with them all day.
The Deputy must be a contact man.
It is time they installed another telephone.
We have a year book with full particulars. That is why we are able to get through.