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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 7 Apr 1964

Vol. 208 No. 7

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Purchase of Dublin Vested Cottages.

46.

asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that the weekly purchase amount payable in respect of a Dublin county council cottage (particulars supplied) is a figure much greater than the weekly rent applicable before the tenant vested; and whether this is in accord with existing legislation providing for reduced amounts being payable after vesting.

I am informed that the purchase annuity in this case is higher than the rent which the tenant had been paying under the county council's differential rent scheme before the cottage was vested in him. The purchase annuity was fixed under a statutory Purchase Scheme. There is no statutory obligation on a county council to fix a purchase annuity at a lower amount than the rent of the cottage. This has been the practice in the case of cottages let at fixed rents but not where the cottages are let under a differential rent scheme.

Surely the spirit of all legislation relating to the purchase of county council cottages has been directed towards encouraging tenants to purchase, by reducing the rents payable. Surely that has been the spirit of all legislation in order to increase proprietorship among those tenants. Whether it is enacted specifically——

That is not a question surely.

It is. If you will allow me——

The Deputy is making a speech before asking a question.

Questions do not always consist of simple single sentences.

They must be relevant to the matter on the Order Paper.

I want to ask the Minister does he not consider that this particular rent is in conflict with the spirit of legislation. Despite the fact that there is undoubtedly a legal instrument which was placed on the Table of the House, would he not consider, in the interests of the future encouragement of such people to purchase, that there should be a reduction in these rents rather than a multiplication——

This is an argument the Deputy is advancing by means of question.

What is the purpose of questions except to get some results?

Question No. 47.

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