asked the Minister for Local Government if he has received the report on the allocation of new houses at Oldtown, Letterkenny, County Donegal, as indicated by him in a reply of 26th February, 1970; if he will indicate the extent of the inquiry made in this case; and if he is now in a position to make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Allocation of County Donegal Houses.
9.
I received the report referred to in my reply of the 26th February, 1970. Subsequently, I had a detailed local investigation carried out by an officer of my Department who interviewed the chairman and officials of the urban district council, carried out with them a detailed review of the housing circumstances of applicants and inspected premises and interviewed applicants where appropriate. The report of the investigating officer is under examination in my Department. I will convey my views in the matter to the housing authority at an early date.
Surely the Minister will agree that the nature of the complaint in this instance was so grave that there should have been a more exhaustive inquiry? The Minister will agree, I think, that it simply is not good enough to interview the chairman and manager. Would the Minister not agree that all the applicants for rehousing should have been investigated so that justice would be seen to be done in a matter in which there has been such a breach of housing regulations?
As I pointed out in my reply, there was a very detailed investigation carried out by an officer of my Department and, where appropriate, the applicants for houses were interviewed and their circumstances were, in fact, investigated. I have this report and I will be making my decision on it in the very near future.
Because of the anxiety of such a large number of people and because of my personal interest in the matter would the Minister be kind enough to let me have a copy of his report as soon as possible?
Oh, no.
Is it not the business of this House to ensure that the allocation of houses is carried out in strict conformity with the letting regulations laid down?
It is the business of my Department to ensure that and I have ensured it.
When will we see the report?
The Deputy will not see the report.
Is the Minister not responsible to the House?
Does the Minister think it right and in the public interest that people should be appointed to houses only to be told at a later date that such appointment is withdrawn, appointed again only to be told by the Department of Local Government that the whole thing has been suspended until the Minister has made up his mind as to whether the original appointments were correct or incorrect? Is the Minister now satisfied that the people who were appointed were treated fairly, irrespective of whether or not they were entitled to a house? It is not right that the Minister should delay the inquiry and he should make the result of the inquiry known immediately. These people have been waiting for houses for the last ten years.
The elected representatives made allegations that the appointments to these houses were not in accordance with the letting regulations and, as Minister for Local Government, I considered it my duty to have these allegations investigated. That has now been done and a report has been submitted to me which I will now consider and on which I will make my decision known at an early date.
I fully appreciate what the Minister says, but I would ask the Minister to consider the feelings of the people who were appointed, some of whom had been waiting ten years for a house. Would the Minister not arrange to have the decision—I fully respect his authority in the matter— made known immediately?
Yes, as soon as possible. I will have it made known as soon as possible and, as a result, the people most entitled to houses in accordance with the letting regulations will get the houses.
Would the Minister be courteous enough to tell me what "immediately" means? Is it this weekend, next month or the month after?
It is quite likely to be by this weekend.
Could the Minister indicate to the House the extent of the irregularities or the unfair practices involved in the letting arrangements in this particular instance?
There is no reason to assume that there were any irregularities or unfair practices involved.
The Minister is admitting to us, therefore, that the county manager's appointments have been accepted by his Department.
I am not.
Then the Minister is telling us that the county manager's recommendations have not been accepted by his Department.
I am not. I have not made any decision whatever.
He does not know.
The Minister does know but he has not made a decision.
The Minister has agreed to accept the county manager's recommendations.
It could happen that some allocations were proposed to be made which were not in accordance with the letting regulations. That could happen without there being any unfair practices involved, as Deputy Treacy suggested. It is a question of interpretation.
And we will have a final decision this weekend.
I said it is quite likely to be this weekend.
I will accept the Minister's word for that.