asked the Minister for Local Government if he will enumerate the municipal services furnished by the Dublin Corporation to the State in respect of O'Connell Bridge House, Hawkins House, St. Stephen's Green House, Ansley House and Liberty Hall; whether the corporation have received from the State any monetary payment in respect of those services; if so, how much; and, if not, why.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Municipal Services for Dublin Buildings.
37.
I am informed by Dublin Corporation that the municipal services furnished to the premises mentioned comprise water supply, and sewage and garbage disposal. It is understood that, with the exception of Ansley House, these premises are held by the State from the landlords under leases which require the provision by the landlords of these services. The question of direct payment by the State to the corporation does not arise. As Ansley House is not yet occupied, the corporation are not providing any service to it at present.
The Minister appreciates that, while the corporation are providing services for these substantial buildings at a cost to the Dublin ratepayers, no revenue whatsoever is being collected at present and it appears will not be collected for some time in respect of these services?
As I said, since the leases include services from the landlords, I do not see how it can be held that those who are occupying the premises should be obliged to pay the corporation.
But the landlord is not paying for the services either. The Dublin ratepayers are paying.
These premises are in many cases paying rates.
They are not. That is the very point. If the Minister checks with his colleague, he will find rates are not being paid.
Quite a considerable amount of rates are coming out of these premises.
We have been told that these premises have not yet been valued for the purpose of rates. The result is no rates are being collected but the corporation are obliged to provide services.
The landlord is entitled, according to his lease, to give these services and it is not a matter for the State to pay the corporation for these services.
It is the Dublin ratepayers who are paying for them.