asked the Minister for Finance what plans, if any, have been formulated by the Government to compensate residents of the Republic who have suffered damage to livestock and property due to the cratering of roads in Border areas.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Border Road Cratering.
74.
It would be premature to consider plans in this respect in the absence of full information about loss or damage to property of private individuals in the areas.
If individuals lodge claims, will the Minister consider meeting these claims and offsetting costs and debts incurred?
Yes. This matter is under consideration but it is premature to say anything more about it at this time.
Would the consideration include depreciation of property as a result of the fact that the owners were unable to get in conveniently to work the property?
I do not follow the Deputy.
If a road is cratered, the person concerned on this side of the Border may be unable to get to his property.
Yes. This matter has come up in Monaghan, Ballyshannon and Pettigo where, in fact, cratering has been done in the Twenty-six Counties and where the explosions have been set off in the North and there has been damage to property in the South. There are cases of possible loss of livestock. This matter is being investigated and the Government are considering what steps they might take to compensate people.
I refer to depreciation of property owing to the fact that it was not possible to work it.
No doubt that is a matter that will also be considered.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary agree that people who are prevented from having access to their land because an army encamped in this part of the country has closed a gate are also entitled to compensation?
In most cases craters have been filled in again by the local people.
Is it part of the Government's consideration of this problem to approach the British Government for a contribution towards the losses incurred by Irish citizens since it is the direct activities of the British Government which cause these losses?
That I could not say.
That is a separate question.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that the British Government should be asked to pay for their depredations on the Border?
For myself, I would say yes, but I cannot speak for the Government.
I would like to point out that from 6 a.m. this morning British soldiers were reopening a crater, a crater which has been filled in on a dozen occasions.
This matter is under examination and it is premature to comment at this stage.