asked the Minister for Finance if he will make provision out of central funds to meet the award of £389,787 recently granted against Tipperary (North Riding) County Council in respect of a malicious injury claim.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tipperary Malicious Injury Claim.
43.
No provision exists whereby Exchequer assistance can be given towards meeting the award mentioned by the Deputy.
Is the Minister not prepared to accept that such provision should be made by way of special legislation, in view of the fact that the award to which I have referred would mean an increase of £1.50 approximately in the £ in the rates in North Tipperary? Does the Minister not realise that there is a clear need for legislation to deal with that matter?
As the Deputy is aware, there is no such legislation in existence at the moment. The whole question is being looked at by the Government.
In view of the fact that this particular award was made only three or four weeks ago, will the Minister recognise, particularly in view of what his colleague the Minister for Local Government has said, that there is need for such legislation, and will he not make a statement to the effect that this Government will introduce legislation to relieve the ratepayers of North Tipperary of that crippling burden which is obviously beyond their capacity to pay?
If the Deputy's party when in Government had passed the necessary legislation——
Would the Minister please direct himself to my question? It relates to a particular award.
I have given the Deputy a lot of latitude.
The Minister's reply did not relate to my question. I was asking about a particular award and whether the Government will introduce special legislation to deal with this matter.
I said the whole question of malicious injury legislation is being considered by the Government.
Will the Minister indicate whether this particular award will be submitted to whoever is looking at it so that the ratepayers of North Tipperary will be relieved of this burden?
Naturally.
Would the Minister agree that on previous occasions legislation was introduced to meet an exceptional claim such as this where ratepayers were faced with a crippling burden and that it was Fianna Fáil's policy when in Government to bring in legislation where a grave hardship was evident?
I think the Deputy is referring to Nelson Pillar.
If the Deputy was referring to Nelson Pillar, there are a lot of ratepayers in Dublin—a lot more than in North Tipperary.