asked the Minister for Local Government (a) the number of vested cottages in County Meath against the condition of which appeals have been lodged since 1st January, 1961, (b) the number inspected, (c) the number on which further repairs were ordered, (d) the number to which those repairs have been carried out, and (e) what steps are taken by the Department to ensure that the repairs listed by their inspector are, in fact, carried out properly.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Meath Vested Cottages.
30.
216 valid appeals under Section 18 of the Labourers Act, 1936, have been received from vested tenants in County Meath since 1st January, 1961. Of these, 144 have been inspected. Further repairs have been determined to be necessary in 117 cases. Responsibility for ensuring the execution of the repairs specified in the determinations is a matter between the housing authority and the vested tenant.
Surely the Minister will agree that since the appeal is against the condition of houses which, in the first instance, the housing authority stated did not need any repair, is it not an inequitable way of doing it to have the same people declaring that the houses are now fit for human habitation and will he not take some other steps to see that the repairs are carried out as laid down by his Department?
I am not quite sure that some other steps are really necessary in cases such as these. The volume of information laid before me does not indicate that this is a general complaint or, indeed, a very frequent complaint. While it is so that the Minister for Local Government finally determines when a dispute arises as to the condition of the house at the time of vesting, as between the local authority and the vesting tenant, it is also so that, the repairs having been certified and those repairs furnished to the tenant, the tenant, in the last analysis, if he has got no satisfaction from the local authority, may take the ordinary common law course to have his right established.
Does the Minister suggest it would be preferable that a tenant should take the local authority into the court to have the repairs carried out rather than have the inspection carried out by an inspector of the Department who would know what was laid down by his Department and should be able to know whether those repairs have been carried out?
The tenant is also aware of what is laid down. I do not think it will happen but if it has to happen, there is that recourse——
It will happen.
31.
asked the Minister for Local Government (1) when the house occupied by Mrs. Margaret Lynch, Gravelstown, Carlanstown, Kells, was vested by Meath County Council, (2) the date on which an appeal was received in his Department against the condition of the house, (3) the date on which it was inspected and the repairs which were declared necessary by the Department inspector, (4) the date on which repairs were carried out, and (5) the date on which the work was certified as being completed, and by whom such certificate was submitted.
The cottage referred to was vested in the tenant on 31st December, 1960. I received the appeal on 11th January, 1961. The Inspector furnished his report on 10th July, 1961. It is not the practice to disclose the contents of reports received from Inspectors in such cases. I determined that the following works were necessary to put the cottage into good repair and sanitary condition for vesting purposes:—
1. Repair defective roof tiles.
2. Fill cracks in lintel to large room.
3. Remedy smoke nuisance in kitchen chimney.
4. Repair defective fireplace.
5. Adjust doors to small and large rooms.
6. Fit new trestle and seat in outoffice and re-hang door.
7. Repair entrance gate and pier.
8. Provide drainage away from dwelling.
9. Paint external wood and iron-work.
The information required in (4) and (5) of the question is not available in my Department as it is a matter for the local authority to have the determined works carried out.
Would the Minister not find out whether the repairs were, in fact, carried out? It is over two years since the cottage was vested. It is almost two years since the appeal was lodged with the Minister. It was lodged in January, 1961, and it is now July, 1962. Is the Minister aware that no repairs have been carried out to that cottage, good, bad or indifferent?
I am not so aware.
Did the Minister ask the local authority for the information?
I said already that the information required at (4) and (5) of the question is not available in my Department because of the reasons already stated in relation to this question and the previous question.
What is the use in the Minister giving the judgment on the state of a cottage if he does not take steps to see that his directions are carried out?
It is not the only judgment that is given, is it?
It is, in this particular case. It is a shocking situation.
Deputy Tully should busy himself with the county council.
I have done so. That is why I am raising it here.