asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state the cause of the delay in sanctioning the appointment as rate collector of Mr. Patrick Barrett, Lahardane, Ballina, County Mayo, and if he is aware that this appointment was made at a county council meeting on 21st July, 1951; that no rates were collected for the moiety six months' period ending 30th September and that, as the second moiety is now due for collection, an early sanction is essential.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Appointment of County Mayo Rate Collector.
I have not sanctioned this appointment because Mr. Barrett does not possess a competent knowledge of Irish, which is an essential qualification for the post of rate collector in a district which includes a Gaeltacht area. However, it was represented to me that, although this rate collection district includes one district electoral division, Letterbrick, listed as being in the Gaeltacht, in fact little Irish is spoken in that district electoral division, and I have deferred giving a final decision on the appointment pending the receipt of further information on that point. Meanwhile, I have informed the county council that Mr. Barrett may, if the county council so desires, be appointed temporarily to collect the warrant for the current financial year.