Vol. 201 No. 1
asked the Minister for Local Government the number of appeals from cottage tenants in (1) County Laois and (2) County Offaly regarding the need for repairs to their cottages which have been vested, subject to the question of appeal to him; and how many appeals are now on hands (a) for three months, (b) between three and six months, (c) over six months, and (d) over twelve months.
48.
asked the Minister for Local Government the number of appeals from cottage tenants in Westmeath regarding the need for repairs to their cottages which have been vested, subject to the question of appeal to him; and how many appeals are now in hands (a) for three months, (b) between three and six months, (c) over six months, and (d) over twelve months.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 48 together and, as the reply is in the form of a tabular statement, to circulate it with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:—
|
County |
No. of valid appeals to be decided |
Number Received |
|||
|
Within the past three months |
From 3 to 6 months ago |
From 6 to 12 months ago |
Over 12 months ago |
||
|
Laois |
16 |
5 |
9 |
1 |
1 |
|
Offaly |
13 |
3 |
5 |
— |
5 |
|
Westmeath |
25 |
10 |
12 |
2 |
1 |
49.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state for each of the past five years, in cases where appeals have been made to him from cottage tenants in North Tipperary regarding the need for repairs to their cottages which have been vested, subject to the question of appeal to him, (a) the number of such appeals received, (b) the number of such appeals granted in full, and (c) the number of appeals granted in part in favour of the tenant.
Statistical information is not available in the form requested by the Deputy.
50.
asked the Minister for Local Government, further to a reply of 13th March in regard to appeals for repairs to cottages vested, subject to appeal, what steps are being taken by his Department to expedite the clearance of appeals which have been awaiting decision for some time, in particular the fourteen appeals from the North Cork area which have been undecided for over twelve months.
51.
asked the Minister for Local Government, further to a reply of 13th March in regard to appeals for repairs to cottages vested, subject to appeal, what steps are being taken by his Department to expedite the clearance of appeals which have been awaiting decision for some time, in particular the thirty-seven appeals from Wexford which have been undecided for six to twelve months and the four appeals which have been undecided for over twelve months.
52.
asked the Minister for Local Government, further to a reply of 13th March in regard to appeals for repairs to cottages vested, subject to appeal, what steps are being taken by his Department to expedite the clearance of appeals which have been awaiting decision for some time, in particular the fourteen appeals from Waterford which have been undecided for over twelve months.
53.
asked the Minister for Local Government, further to a reply of 13th March in regard to appeals for repairs to cottages vested, subject to appeal, what steps are being taken by his Department to expedite the clearance of appeals which have been awaiting decision for some time, in particular the six appeals from North Tipperary which have been undecided for over twelve months.
I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to taken questions Nos. 50, 51, 52 and 53 together.
Every effort is made in my Department to have appeals under Section 18 of the Labourers Act, 1936, determined with the least possible delay. It is, however, necessary to obtain information from the appropriate local authority in respect of each appeal received and much delay has been occasioned in the past due to the failure of some local authorities to reply to inquiries in a reasonable time.
The matter has been under examination in my Department and, as a result, alterations in procedure were made in 1962 to facilitate local authorities in dealing with such inquiries. I have circularised local authorities this year emphasising the necessity to furnish early replies to Departmental inquiries in this regard.
There has already been some improvement in the position, and I expect a continued improvement in the future.
Could the Minister say whether or not in the case of the four counties quoted, there has been undue delay in replying to queries from the Department?
I would have to look that up.
Are these four in the clear?
I would neither say they are nor they are not at the moment.
In view of the fact that when the appeals go to the Department it is the Minister's responsibility to see that the inspector examines the houses and reports to the local authority, how could the delay be attributed to the local authority?
The balance in favour very simple. He knows perfectly well that correspondence is necessary, that correspondence has had to take place and that correspondence has been delayed by the local authorities to such an extent that our inspections could not and did not take place.
I suggest the Minister is very simple if he accepts that as the reason for delays which he says take place. There is no such reason.
Could the Minister give us a sample query that goes out to the local authority?
But for the fact that I do not want to delay the House, I could give him so many that it would take the rest of Question Time to do it.
One or two examples.
If the Deputy will put down another question, I shall give him a more comprehensive reply.
We have not got much satisfaction in this.
Neither have I.
From the local authority?
Yes.
Which local authority?
Many local authorities.
Would the Minister state if it is correct to say that his Department has often employed engineers from the particular county concerned to inspect the cottages on appeal?
