asked the Minister for Local Government if he has made an order under section 76 (7) of the Local Government Act, 1946, changing the name of An Uaimh, County Meath, to Navan; and, if not, when he proposes to make such an order.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Change of Town Name.
75.
The law provides that following an application, duly made, the Government may, by order, change the name of an urban district to such other name as they think fit. The application made by the urban district council of An Uaimh is being considered.
Would the Minister be able to say if a definite decision will be given so that the change in name, the proposal for which was carried overwhelmingly by the ratepayers of Navan, can be put into operation on 1st January, 1972?
This matter will be considered and I would not be able to answer the Deputy's question at this stage.
I am not just being awkward with the Minister but surely——
I know that. I just want to give him a straight answer.
Unfortunately, the Minister has not given me a straight answer. If he had I would not be asking supplementaries. In view of the fact that the vast majority of the people in the town voted to change the name back to the old name of Navan would the Minister not agree that there should be no difficulty about his Department making a decision about such a request? There will be a lot of dissatisfaction if, by a trick, the matter is allowed to pass over the date.
I would like to correct the Deputy. It is not a matter for my Department. It is a matter for the Government and they will consider it.
Is the Minister telling me that the Government will sit down for several hours with towels tied around their heads sweating out whether it should be "Navan" or "An Uaimh"? Can the Minister just say straight out is he or is he not going to change the name?
The Deputy has a very false impression about how this Government work.
Oh, no. They do not work.
(Interruptions.)
I will put down the question again in about two months' time. That should give the Minister plenty of time.