asked the Minister for Local Government the condition under which Dublin Corporation accept liability for repairs to corporation dwellings; and whether there is any shortage in the maintenance staff of Dublin Corporation at the present time.

The Housing (Management and Letting) Regulations, 1950, require housing authorities to keep dwellings provided by them in tenantable condition and repair. The regulations also require that letting agreements shall provide that tenants shall not cause any damage to the dwellings, shall keep them in a clean and proper state and keep the windows and fences of gardens or plots in repair.

I am informed by the corporation that, at present, there is no general shortage of maintenance staff, the number at 31st October, 1966, being higher than at the corresponding date in the past few years.

Does the Minister consider that such works as the repair of sanitary facilities, of damaged doors, should be the responsibility of the City Manager or, as is the case in many instances, the responsibility of the tenants?

The tenants are required to keep the dwellings in a proper state of repair and I consider that to be a reasonable requirement.

Does the Minister suggest that the tenants should be asked to repair the effects of rot in doors or damaged water basins or cisterns which were of unsuitable standard at the beginning?

That is altogether too general a question to decide. Each case has to be decided on its merits.

Surely the Minister could give us an indication whether, in his view, the tenants should do the work which is the responsibility of the local authority but which has not been done by the local authority?

If it is the responsibility of the local authority, it should be done by the local authority.