asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware that evictions are pending at Ennis and Killaloe from houses erected for British ex-soldiers and sailors by the Soldiers' and Sailors' Land Trust, and whether, since such evictions would cause much suffering and hardship to the several children concerned, he will make the necessary representations to have the evictions indefinitely postponed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Evictions of British ex-Soldiers and Sailors
My Department has already made representations in some cases of this kind to the Trust, but it claims to be legally bound in certain circumstances to terminate tenancies in favour of qualified ex-servicemen. I have been regretfully forced to the conclusion that further representations in individual cases would serve no useful purpose. I have, therefore, no alternative but to await the outcome of the proposed general negotiations with the responsible authorities which I hope to initiate with the least possible delay.
Does the Minister fully appreciate the injustice that is being done in these cases? An ex-soldier assembles furniture, develops a garden and lives in a house for 20 years or so. Then he dies and his wife and family are evicted. Is there no redress for that or is there any manner of means by which it can be prevented? Does the Minister appreciate the gravity of these cases and the seriousness of the injustice done to families by the operation of the laws under which the Trust claim they act?
I am well aware of the circumstances and of the hardships arising in these cases. Representations have been received from time to time from Deputy Cowan and other Deputies on behalf of occupants of Irish Sailors and Soldiers' Land Trust houses who have received ejectment notices because they are not ex-members of the British Army or widows of such persons. Approaches made by the Department to the Trust Directors in such cases have consistently been met with the response that the Trust must retain the cottages only for qualified persons, that they have a long waiting list of applicants and that they would leave themselves open to legal action by disappointed applicants if they continued to let their cottages otherwise than in accordance with the terms of the Trust. Having regard to these facts, I do not see that there is any use in making further representations, but I am taking other steps to bring the matter to a head. What these steps are I cannot say at the moment.
Could the Minister not get the ejectments suspended until some terms are arrived at?
Would it be possible for the Minister, in consultation with the Minister for Justice, to have a very short Bill introduced to prevent the quite large number of the evictions that are due to take place, taking place? Would the Minister consider discussing the matter with the Minister for Justice?
I am not so sure that the course suggested by the Deputy would be feasible, whatever about consulting the Minister for Justice.
Mr. Byrne
Is the Minister aware that the Soldiers' and Sailors' Land Trust are about to sell their houses and, in view of that, would he ask them to take no action until the scheme for the sale of the houses has gone to his Department?
I am not so aware.
Mr. Byrne
I told you so last week and it appeared in the newspapers.