asked the Minister for Local Government the total amount paid by local authorities in respect of malicious damage claims during 1970-71 and 1971-72.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Malicious Damage Claims.
111.
The amounts provided by local authorities in their statutory estimates of expenses for those years to meet decrees granted under the malicious injuries code were: 1970-71, £265,949; 1971-72, £583,689.
Could the Minister account for this alarming increase?
No, I could not.
Does the Minister consider that savings might be effected if there were a centralised authority to investigate all such claims and to undertake court proceedings where necessary, in view of the fact that this service is duplicated by 27 county councils at the moment?
I have not examined the proposals fully.
Surely the Minister must be well aware of the reason for this increase, that it is due to the number of burnings——
Other than the obvious reason——
The drift to anarchy under Fianna Fáil and the fact that there are so many burnings throughout the length and breadth of the country and nothing being done about them.