asked the Minister for Local Government if he will make a statement with reference to a report (details supplied) of a claim to a property by Dublin Corporation with particular reference to the statutory powers and legal procedure adopted by the corporation; whether steps will now be taken to alleviate the hardship now suffered by the old people in question and to pay them compensation equivalent to the present day value of the property; why the corporation have for 21 years taken no action in relation to the property; and the use to which the corporation intend to put the property in future.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Corporation Property.
7.
I understand from the corporation that the property in question was the subject of a vesting order made by them in 1943 pursuant to section 20 and the Schedule to the Neutrality (War Damage to Property) Act, 1941. The corporation inform me that as they did not wish to disturb the occupants until the property was required for redevelopment, they have been allowed to continue in occupation of the property, paying a yearly rent to the corporation. I understand that the occupants' solicitors are in communication with the corporation with a view to having the position clarified.
Can the Minister say if these people were not informed of the vesting order and if the first information they had on this matter was quite recently when they went to sell the property?
I am not aware of those things at all.
Is the Minister aware that these people have, in the meanwhile, obtained a loan on the strength of the deeds of this property which, according to his statement now, is not their property?
I am not aware of that, either.