asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state (a) the number of assessors employed in connection with the Shannon Power Development Scheme; (b) the salaries of each of these assessors and the terms of their appointments; (c) the amount of compensation awarded and accepted in full satisfaction; (d) the number of cases where compensation awarded was refused, and (e) the total of awards refused.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Compensation Under Shannon Scheme.
Three valuers are employed on a temporary basis and receive travelling and subsistence allowances at the usual rates, in addition to fees varying from two guineas to three guineas for each day on which they are necessarily engaged on this work.
Up to the present agreements have been arrived at in 3,517 cases for compensation to the amount of £75,440. Of the cases in which negotiations have been begun, agreement has not yet been reached in 285, but there is no reason to expect that agreement will not be reached eventually.
The duty of the valuers is to negotiate for an agreement, not to make an award. Consequently no question of the refusal of an award arises.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary quite sure that refusals have not been received by the Department, as I myself noticed one case of refusal? Is it to be taken that what the Parliamentary Secretary has just stated is correct?
Yes. These cases are still under consideration and negotiations for a settlement are going on. That is the position.