asked the Minister for Local Government whether, in view of the public displeasure at the terms of the circular recently issued by the Dublin Corporation to their tenants under the powers conferred on them by Section 14 (1) of the Housing (Amendment) Act, 1948, he will at an early date introduce proposals for legislation to repeal this section.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Corporation's Circular to Tenants.
Mr. Byrne
Mr. Murphy
The section to which the Deputy refers is permissive so far as housing authorities are concerned. It places no obligation on them, but merely enables them for the purpose of fixing rents to get certain particulars in writing from existing or prospective tenants. It has not been suggested to me by any housing authority that this power to obtain necessary information should now be taken from them, and I am aware that the Dublin Corporation are already availing of the section in considering the question of introducing into Dublin a system of differential rents such as exists in Cork and which was recommended by the Dublin Housing Inquiry Committee. Some tenants may fear that it is intended to disturb them in their tenancies or transfer them to other houses. These fears are unfounded. Differential renting means fixing of rents according to the ability of the tenant to pay and will be a protection when the circumstances of a family are adversely affected by unemployment and other causes. Some rents may be reduced and in no case would a new rent be increased above a figure representing the economic rent.
Was the decision to require this information in the Dublin area taken by the Dublin Corporation or by the Dublin City Manager?
Mr. Murphy
I could not say, but I gather from the impressions conveyed here last week that the decision taken had the support of the corporation.
The Minister must be aware that the actual decision was taken by the council.
Is the Minister aware that one of the questions in the circular relates to the income which tenants obtain from lodgers and that one of the conditions of tenancy is that they cannot take lodgers in or sublet? In view of the fact that that question is asked, some tenants are suspicious that it is a trap to get them to admit that they have broken the terms of their tenancy.
I understand that the Minister has no jurisdiction in the matter. It is a matter for the corporation, according to the Minister.