asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state the reason why Mrs. Tierney, the wife of a railway worker at Amiens Street Station, was refused the house at Donnelly's Orchard which she secured as a result of a public draw held in the Mansion House, Dublin; if he is aware that the Dublin Commissioners have, whilst refusing her the house, recognised her claim by offering her a smaller dwelling, which is nearly three miles away from her husband's work; that the house in which Mrs. Tierney and her family reside has one lavatory for forty-two persons residing in the dwelling; if he will see that Mrs. Tierney gets the house she won by public draw of eligible persons or that she is allotted a house in Marino, which is convenient to her husband's employment.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - TENANCY OF A DUBLIN HOUSE.
I have no information on this matter. The letting of houses provided by local authorities under the Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890 to 1919, is entirely within their discretion, and I am not empowered to control such lettings. It is open to the Deputy to bring the matter before the Commissioners for the County Borough.
Does the Minister realise that the difficulty is as great now, inasmuch as the Commissioners are not responsible to anyone but the Minister?
I do not think that precludes any Deputy bringing the matter before the Commissioners.
True; but if they do not answer satisfactorily where are we?
Then the Minister is in the position that he has no power to control such lettings.
So that nobody has any control over the Commissioners?
That is not a correct conclusion.