asked the Minister for the Environment if he will change the guidelines issued by him to local authorities so that local authorities such as Dublin Corporation will not refuse transfers to tenants because of water charge arrears.
597.
Written Answers. - Transfer of Tenancies.
596.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he will amend the guidelines issued by him to local authorities so that the offer of transfer of tenancy, refused because of arrears of water charges for persons (details supplied) in County Dublin, will be made.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 596 and 597 together. The guidelines referred to were intended to secure sympathetic treatment for those who have genuine difficulty in paying charges. It is a matter for the local authorities concerned to apply the guidelines in the most effective way in individual cases and having regard to local circumstances. The administration of their housing estates, including all issues relating to the granting of transfers of tenancies, is a matter for individual local authorities and one in which I have no function.