asked the Minister for Justice if he will state the number of ejectment decrees granted by all the courts of Saorstát Eireann since the 24th day of June, 1927, against tenants of dwelling-houses; and if he will also state the number of cases of ejectment at present listed and pending in the courts of Saorstát Eireann against tenants of dwelling-houses.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - EJECTMENT DECREES AGAINST TENANTS.
To enable me to furnish the Deputy with the information which he requires, it will be necessary for my Department to communicate with all the District Court clerks to the number of 156, with the 26 county registrars, and with the officials of the High Court of Justice.
These officials will, moreover, have to attempt to select from their books the cases dealing with dwelling-houses, distinguishing these from cases dealing with land or business houses. All this represents a very considerable expenditure of time and labour, and unless the Deputy has some very particular reason for wishing to have these figures, I should be reluctant to set these inquiries on foot.
Mr. BYRNE
Would the Minister not consider it worth while for his Department to have this information when considering the extension of the Rents Act or otherwise?
No, I do not think my Department requires the information.
Will the Minister, in order to avoid all the trouble and expense that would arise in preparing the report sought for in the question, consider amending the present Rent Restrictions Act?
The Rent Restrictions Act is a comparatively recent Act, as the Deputy is aware.