asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether in connection with the laying of the pipe-line from the Liffey reservoir at Poulaphouca by the Dublin Corporation, he is aware of the very great dissatisfaction that exists amongst the owners of the lands concerned with the method of assessing the damages, fixing the awards and the harsh treatment meted out to those cases which have been the subject of consideration by the arbitrator; and if he will say what steps he proposes to take to ensure that proper examination and assessment in all cases are made of the damage done and the losses sustained, and that adequate compensation is awarded and paid.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Poulaphouca Scheme and Compensation Awards.
The Deputy and other Deputies representing the Carlow-Kildare constituency, who have approached me so often on this matter, cannot be in any doubt as to what the position is. I have no function whatsoever in relation to claims for compensation, assessment of damage, appointment of arbitrator or any other similar matter arising out of the Poulaphouca scheme.
I have previously explained all this to the Deputy and other who approached me, and no later than the 9th of January last set it all out in a letter to Deputy Harris, who, no doubt, conveyed the information to the persons concerned. I must, however, deprecate the Deputy's suggestion that the awards of the arbitrator in the cases which were referred to him were harsh and by implication unjust. The arbitrator in question was appointed by the Land Values Reference Committee, consisting of the Chief Justice, the President of the High Court, and the Chairman of the Surveyors'. Institution (Irish Branch).
I cannot believe that the person so appointed would be incompetent or unfair, and so warrant the reflection upon his conduct which is conveyed by the terms of the Deputy's question.
Has the Minister examined into the various awards which were made?
I have told the Deputy that I have no function in this matter at all.
How has the Minister satisfied himself if he has not examined the awards?
I know that the arbitrator was appointed by the committee consisting of the persons I have mentioned and I am sure he was neither incompetent nor unfair.
How can the Minister express an opinion as to the awards made if he does not know what they were?
Because I am satisfied that these persons, the majority of whom are judicial persons, would proceed in a judicial way.
Could the Minister say in connection with the arbitration inquiry whether it was the value of the land when taken over a couple of years ago or to-day?
I have already informed Deputy Hughes that I have no function in this matter, and, with all due respect, I do not intend to usurp any function in regard to it.
Is the Minister aware that the functions under this particular Act were enacted in the House and that the attention of the Minister was directed to a possible hardship to certain individuals? Is he aware that if this land were taken over two or three years ago and not yet paid for or only paid for now, the person who was dispossessed, if he has to buy land, has to pay a much higher price for that land than he receives by way of compensation for the land taken over? Obviously, if the Minister has not examined it there is at least a case for examination to see that no injustice was done.
Is the Minister aware that the subsoil and the top soil were mixed up; that no effort was made to preserve the top soil or the fertile soil?
The Minister has stated that he has no function in the matter.
Is the Minister aware——
When the Chair rises, Deputies resume their seats, according to Standing Orders. The Minister has no function in the matter, and if the Chair had been aware of that fact, the question would not have been allowed.
I was going to ask, if the Minister has no function in the matter, why the question appears on the Order Paper and why the Minister was allowed to read out the answer which he gave?
If, as I stated, the Chair had known that the Minister had no function in the matter the question would not have appeared on the Order Paper. No question on similar lines will be printed in future.