asked the Minister for the Environment the action which has been taken by him to implement the many important recommendations for legislative change in the Ombudsman's report, 1984.
Written Answers. - Ombudsman's Report.
67.
The Ombudsman, in his annual report for 1984, adverted to two matters of concern to my Department where he felt that change should be affected. These are referred to in chapter 5 of the report under the headings "Valuation of Property" and "Antiquated Law". Under the heading "Valuation of Property" the Ombudsman drew attention to the fact that some rating authorities did not go beyond their statutory obligation to publish revised valuations in the local newspaper, so that persons were unaware that a revision was in progress, whereas others operated a practice of notifying the occupiers of property so affected individually. He also recommended that the dates in regard to the revision of rateable valuation of property should be altered. My Department issued a circular on 1984, to each rating authority requesting them to adopt the practice, under which each occupier whose valuation has been listed for revision will receive an individual notification of the fact together with details of the rights of appeal. The question of the dates in regard to the revision of valuation of property would be a matter for the Minister for Finance.
The second matter of concern to my Department referred to under the heading "Antiquated Law" in the report refers to a situation where a private householder can be liable for the state of repair of that part of a branch water pipe serving his premises which is outside the curtilage of his house even though damage may have been incurred by factors outside of his control such as heavy traffic on a road. I intend to include provision in forthcoming legislation to confer a new general power on local authorities to assume responsibility for repairs to the relevant portions of such branch water pipes.