asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware of a report (details supplied) regarding a purchase scheme for the tenants of a company (name supplied) in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Tenant Purchase Scheme.
114.
The Press report is incorrect in stating that talks at Government level have been held to consider this matter. Certain representations were made to me by the residents' association concerned and I replied to them on 14th January.
These are rented houses—built, I understand, since World War II expressly for letting—and it would be quite inappropriate that I should comment on the terms on which the owners have offered to sell to existing tenants.
Would it not have been wise to deny the statement which appeared in the papers so that residents of the Wadelai Estate would not be living in false hopes of the Minister doing something for them?
There was no statement issued by me to the papers. I could not be expected to issue a denial or comment on a newspaper article. I was not aware at the time that the newspaper article was written and was having that effect. It was not inspired by me and had nothing to do with me.
I thought the Minister said he had consultations with representatives of the tenants.
No. Certain representations were made to me—not directly. There was a meeting between my personal secretary and representatives of the tenants and a letter was subsequently written to the tenants on 14th January setting out the position in regard to their type of house. Their difficulty is that their houses were built expressly for letting.