asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware that it is the custom of the court messenger in County Wicklow, when executing warrants under Section 28 of the Land Act of 1933, to demand fees amounting in many cases to upwards of £2 in respect of each visit, even where more than five farmers are visited in the same district and also to demand fees far exceeding the amount ultimately accepted in full settlement.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Court Messenger's Fees.
asked the Minister for Justice if he can state the total amount of (1) sheriff's fees and (2) court messenger's fees collected in County Wicklow in respect of land annuities during each of the five years ended December 31st, 1941.
I propose to take question Nos. 49 and 60 together.
County Wicklow is one of the counties in which the separate office of under-sheriff still exists. The fees payable to an under-sheriff are prescribed by order, but any dispute in any particular case as to the exact amount is a matter to be settled between the under-sheriff and the person concerned and, if necessary, by the courts. In general, my Department has no authority to intervene in such a matter or to examine an undersheriff's accounts. I have, consequently, no official information as to the total amount of such fees in County Wicklow, but my Department is in fairly close touch with the actual situation and I am advised that no evidence of overcharging has come to the Department's knowledge. If the Deputy cares to furnish me with specific examples I shall have them inquired into, so far as I have any power to do so.