asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state how many applications have been received by his Department for compensation in respect of lands acquired or flooded, or buildings demolished in connection with the Shannon Scheme; how many of these applications have been examined and decisions reached in their respect, and what is the cause of the delay in reaching decisions in the remainder.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - SHANNON SCHEME COMPENSATION.
Actual claims to compensation have been received in very few cases. The usual procedure is for negotiations in settlement of compensation to be initiated by a valuer acting on my behalf. Agreements as to compensation have been reached in 80 cases and 50 cases are in the hands of the valuer. The usual cause of delay in arriving at settlements, where it is not unreasonable claims by the occupiers, is the difficulty experienced in getting proof of title from the occupiers.
Mr. HOGAN
Will the Minister say if it is not reasonable that those people whose land is acquired or houses demolished should expect compensation where negotiations have taken place within the last twelve months?
I cannot answer a question vaguely put. If the Deputy would add "and where proof of title is given" I would say the answer should be in the affirmative, but where proof of title is not given I should say the answer should be in the negative.
Mr. HOGAN
Would the Minister consider the advisability of appointing some separate section of his Department to deal with this? My information is that those people are looking for compensation, and their title is that which most people have for their holdings in country districts. These people are incurring a good deal of hardship and suffering from want of compensation. In some cases I know the houses are unfit to dwell in because of the injury done them. The lands have been acquired and they have received nothing for them.
There is a section of my Department specially arranged for dealing with this; secondly, the mere fact that a house is damaged, and compensation is not given, is not proof either of unreasonableness on my part or delay on the part of the Department; it depends upon the claim made; and thirdly, I cannot discuss these cases in the vague. I should like to have one or two examples of what the Deputy calls "hardships."
Mr. HOGAN
Very well. The Minister will get them.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether any compensation is paid to landowners on whose lands poles have been erected under the Shannon Electric Scheme; (b) who fixes the compensation; (c) whether landowners are to be informed previous to the erection of such poles on their land; and (d) if they are so informed, to how many weeks or months notice they are entitled.
Before entering upon lands for the purpose of erecting transmission lines, a statutory notice in writing is served upon the occupier, entitling entry to be made on the land on the expiration of one month from the date of the notice. Compensation is payable to land owners on whose lands transmission line poles have been erected, the amount being assessed by agreement between the owners and valuers acting on my behalf. The valuers interview the owners and, within certain limits, are authorised where agreement is reached to make immediate payment.