asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware that a person (name supplied) who purchased from the County Donegal railways a house site on the disused railway track at Carbery near Donegal town, is obstructed in the erection and use of the house he built thereon by his Department's telephone wires passing through portion of the house; and, if so, if he will have the necessary poles and wires removed at his Department's expense to enable the householder to have the privacy and amenities to which he is entitled.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Donegal House Site.
7.
The Department has wayleave rights in perpetuity on the land in question. The existence of these rights and the presence of the telephone pole and wires, were no doubt well known to the purchaser at the material time. The Department is prepared to move its plant at his expense in order to facilitate him but it would not be justified in spending public money on this.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that when this man was building his house, he applied for town planning permission and published the usual notice and received no objection from the Department of Posts and Telegraphs? Is he further aware that of two neighbours of this gentleman, one had wires similarly placed removed free of charge and the other had them removed for £25? Is he further aware that in front of this man's house there is a cable which would accommodate the wires and carry them without inconvenience to him. Is he further aware that he and his Department are being made a laughing stock by "Newsbeat" on Telefís Éireann and in articles in the local newspapers? That being so, will he for God's sake, remove these wires and put them in the cable in front of the house?
I do not know what particular "further aware" this arises out of but at any rate it proves that the Minister is not dictating to Radio Telefís Éireann as to what they should put into or take out of any particular programme. I agree that this does look a bit of a laugh but as against that the Deputy suggests that this man was entitled to build his house around the wires and that the Department did not specifically object. The fact is that this man knew we had these wavleave rights and yet he commenced building. It is the applicant who is being unreasonable in this case. The position was explained to him, that we cannot give additional money because it could be taken as further subsidisation, the Department of Local Government having already given a subsidy in relation to his house.
Will the Department take £10 and remove the wires the same as they did for his neighbour?
I do not know what the arrangement was in the other case. We would be anxious to accommodate him but the cost of the removal of the wires in this case would be £72.
Here is a man who has wires running through his house. Will the Parliamentary Secretary for God's sake, facilitate him in some way?
If he were in the cumann it would be done for him.
The strange thing is that he is in it.
That proves that there is no corruption.
The whole thing is hay-wire.