asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether the proposed letting of the Scariff Workhouse grounds in County Clare, as tabled on the 7th March, 1928, includes that portion of the grounds formerly let to plot-holders in the village of Scariff for the raising of potatoes, vegetables, etc.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - SCARIFF WORKHOUSE GROUNDS.
If the Deputy would repeat his question on a day next week I would then be in a position to reply. The papers are at present out with the inspector.
Mr. HOGAN
Will the Minister guarantee that this matter will not be disposed of? There is a statutory limit of twelve days during which this matter must lie on the Table of the Dáil, and if the period is passed before attention is drawn to it, I will have no redress afterwards. I am raising the matter now so that it can be discussed.
I have not the papers. The matter is actually held up.
Mr. HOGAN
That means that I will be able to raise the matter after the statutory time has passed? I want to be clear on that point.
This question was handed in yesterday. In the absence of the papers and in the absence of the personnel I cannot answer the question to-day.
Mr. HOGAN
But the Minister will appreciate my difficulty. The papers were tabled on the 7th. Possibly the statutory number of days will have passed before the Minister will be in a position to give me a definite reply. If I cannot get a definite reply within a week, I will have to table a motion asking the Dáil not to agree to depriving certain plotholders of what they have had for four years.
The Deputy's point is that the time will have elapsed, and that the motion would be of no value?
Mr. HOGAN
That is so.
I have not examined the matter. Will the Minister be able to answer to-morrow?
It is possible that I will have the information to-morrow. If I have I will give it to the Deputy. With regard to a motion, even if some days had passed from the time the information was tabled, and even if the Deputy did bring up a motion, it might take time before that motion could be discussed.
Mr. HOGAN
Yes, but clearly I would have raised the matter within the statutory time by tabling the motion. I am anxious to facilitate the Minister; I am not anxious to inconvenience him in any way, but clearly my position is obvious to anybody.
If the Deputy thinks his position is prejudiced by not tabling a motion I think he might table it.