asked the Minister for Local Government if he will now meet representatives of the tenants of Dublin County Council who are on rent strike to discuss with them their problems in relation to the house purchase scheme.
135.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Dublin Rent Strike.
134.
Mr. O'Higgins
andMr. McMahon asked the Minister for Local Government what steps he proposes to take to bring to a speedy and just conclusion the present rent strike amongst Dublin County Council tenants.
136.
Mr. O'Higgins
andMr. McMahon asked the Minister for Local Government why he declined to receive a deputation from the County Dublin Tenants Association to discuss suggested changes in the terms of the purchase scheme offered to county council tenants under recent legislation.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 134, 135 and 136 together.
In correspondence which I have had with the Dublin County Council Tenants' Association over the last couple of months I have explained fully the policy governing purchase schemes generally and the reasons why the demands which they make in relation to Dublin County Council's approved scheme cannot be met. The sale prices of the houses in this scheme are the minimum which could legally be approved having regard to the provisions of section 90 of the Housing Act, 1966, and the regulations made thereunder. Apart from any other consideration, I have no power to vary the prices in an approved scheme during the period for which the scheme is valid. Dublin County Council's scheme remains valid until the 23rd March, 1973.
For these reasons, there is no scope for negotiation regarding the terms of Dublin County Council's approved purchase scheme and there would be no point in my meeting the tenant's representatives to discuss it.
If Dublin County Council wish to continue selling their houses after next March they can only do so under a new scheme in which prices are based on market values then current. Having regard to present trends in house prices this will almost certainly mean that the prices will be substantially higher than in the present scheme which were assessed two years ago, in June, 1970, and which, having regard to house price trends since, must now represent very good value. I would, therefore, urge any tenants, who are genuinely interestd in purchasing, to do so without any delay.
Would the Minister not think it in the circumstances a useful exercise by him to meet the representatives of the tenants' association and to explain his point of view to them? If there is a legal difficulty in effecting a change in the existing scheme why does the Minister not take steps to initiate a change in the law?
Surely the Minister must be aware that this scheme which has been brought into operation recently is most unjust to the tenants who are now on strike as no purchase scheme was available to these tenants from 1936 until 1972? I would like to state that four times the representatives of the tenants' association requested the Minister to meet them and he has repeatedly refused to do so. Had he met them they might very well not be on strike today.
Is the Minister aware that there is a very serious situation here all over County Dublin? In these circumstances where there are so many people involved the Minister should strain a point, meet them and hear what they have to say. There is no hope of selling a house and I am sure he is interested in selling houses to thtese residents.
I am very keen that local authorities should sell as many houses as possible. Generally speaking, I think the House and the Deputies present will accept that, as far as meeting deputations is concerned, I am pretty reasonable. I make a point, as far as I can within reason, of seeing persons and groups of people who ask to see me. However, on this question of house purchase schemes and the price that local authorities have put on houses, which has been sanctioned by the Department, my experience is that whenever a new purchase scheme is devised there is an immediate attempt on the part of the tenants to have the purchase price reduced. It would be all very well if there was some way in which that figure could be reduced and attempts to do so had some possibility of success. In the first year when I came into the Department I met many groups of tenants who had had a purchase scheme drawn up for them by the local authority and who wanted to speak to me about the level of the prices. I was repeating the same points to all of these deputations and it was a useless exercise, because as the law stands I did not have the authority to change——
You can change the law.
The law is an ass.
——the purchase scheme as drawn up by the local authorities. It has to run its full period and, as Deputies have heard, it runs until 1973. Therefore, I am reluctant to meet groups where there is absolutely no leeway for me. I know the type of argument and the points that tenant groups make when it is a purchase scheme they want to discuss with the Minister. I have discussed probably purchase schemes with 16 or 17 different groups over the last 18 months to two years——
But not with the Dublin County Council.
I know the case they are going to make before they come in. It is not fair to give them the impression that the Minister may be able to help them or offer them some reduction or some improvement on the deal that has been offered to them by the local authority. It is very easy for Deputies and for the members of local authorities to pass the whole thing over to the Minister and to relieve themselves of whatever odium there is in having to defend the local authority purchase scheme.
The Minister's predecessor was responsible for the law.
I am quite willing to meet groups of residents or community groups and tenants but in this particular case it would be a useless exercise.
Could I ask the Minister——
Question Time is over by five minutes.
It is a very important question.
The Deputy will appreciate that Standing Orders provide for Questions up to 5 p.m. If the Chair exceeds that and creates a precedent, it will be quoted against the Chair.
It can be raised again on Question No. 139.
The remaining Questions will appear on next Tuesday's Order Paper unless Deputies require written replies, in which case they will get them at the General Office.
The Dáil adjourned at 5.5 p.m. until 3 p.m. on Tuesday the 20th June, 1972.