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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 11 Nov 1970

Vol. 249 No. 7

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Differential Rents.

46.

asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware of the growing dissatisfaction among Dublin Corporation tenants at Dublin Corporation's present policy on (1) differential rents in general, (2) differential rents applying in all inter-transfer cases and (3) differential rents applying to occupants of houses for newly weds on compulsory transfer; and that a similar policy is being adopted by other local authorities; and, if so, if he will request a revision of this policy.

Apart from complaints by some tenants' organisations, to which I replied recently, I am not aware of dissatisfaction among corporation tenants who in general appreciate that their accommodation is let to them at a fraction of its value, that their rent is abated if income falls as a result of sickness, unemployment, retirement, or for any other reason, and that substantial subsidies equivalent to an average of almost £2 per week per house are paid from rates and general taxation to keep their rents low.

In the Dublin Corporation area, where inter-transfers are necessary to relieve overcrowding, or are recommended by the chief medical officer on health grounds, tenants are assessed for rent on the same basis as before the transfer. I have no objection to the adoption of this practice in other areas.

The administration of the newly-wed scheme is a matter for the relevant local authority. I understand that in the case of tenants of newly-wed dwellings in the Dublin Corporation area who were over five years in occupation on 28th February, 1966, and who were not offered alternative accommodation before that date, the corporation have endeavoured as far as practicable, to rehouse them in houses to which scale A rents apply. The scheme operates only in the Dublin area. There would, therefore, be no point in my circularising other local authorities about it.

This is a very important question——

There are a great number of important questions on the Order Paper and at this rate we shall never reach them.

I have asked the Minister for Local Government to state the number of different tenants' organisations. To my knowledge there is just one organisation called NATO which has been in contact with the Minister. The Minister has been hesitant about meeting them to discuss these proposals which are a source of irritation to Dublin Corporation tenants and council house tenants throughout the country.

The Deputy cannot make a speech, he may ask a question.

Will the Minister elaborate on this?

The Deputy is quite wrong. I have at no time been hesitant at meeting tenants' organisations or anybody else if it is possible to fit them in. I had an agreeable meeting with the National Association of Tenants' Organisations some time in July when certain proposals were brought forward. I indicated that a further discussion should take place between us and they agreed to that. I said recently in a letter to them that possibly a further meeting could take place when they had considered the points I made in that letter. I gave the House that information last week also. I do not think it would be correct for Deputy O'Connell to try to give the impression that I was at any time reluctant to meet any group of people who felt they should meet me to discuss matters pertaining to my Department.

Is it not a fact that Dublin Corporation tenants and tenants of council houses are very dissatisfied with the present scheme and in view of this would he consider an independent investigation into the matter so that we might have some satisfaction? The present scheme is not satisfactory. The tenants are not satisfied and in view of this would the Minister consider having some independent group examine the matter in an effort to come up with a more satisfactory solution?

This statement of the Deputy is completely false.

That they are not satisfied?

Yes. Nobody is ever satisfied when they have to pay. Nobody is satisfied to pay income tax but in regard to the differential rents scheme, there is no other scheme of which I know or which has been suggested to me that could be operated more fairly in relation to the tenants than the scheme which operates. I am completely satisfied with the terms of it and especially with the new scheme which allows many concessions to the tenants. I am satisfied that there is no other manner in which local authority houses can be let which would provide for rents within the capacity of the tenants to pay and which is related to the tenants' income. There is certainly no evidence of widespread dissatisfaction. Perhaps there is one faction trying to create that impression and they are now being supported by Deputy O'Connell but, generally speaking, my experience and the experience of my Department, as well as that of many public representatives, is that the differential rents scheme is satisfactory. It has been adopted by all the local authorities and it is not true to say it is creating large-scale dissatisfaction. In many cases it is a life-saver for tenants of small means.

The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.

Is the Minister aware of the fact that Dublin Corporaation——

Questions finish at four o'clock.

This is an important question and in view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply I propose to raise the matter on the Adjournment.

The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.

Arising out of the Minister's reply——

There is no "Arising out of the Minister's reply". Questions finish at four o'clock and the remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.

In view of the fact that the Minister has misled the House——

I am not allowing any further questions.

(Interruptions.)
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