asked the Minister for Local Government if he received a request from Galway Corporation to approve the cancellation of retrospective rent increases applied in January, 1977, and the limitation of any increase to a maximum of £2 per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

As I indicated to the Deputy in my reply to Question No. 95 of 30th March, 1977, my Department received a request on 22nd March, 1977, for approval to a proposal of the assistant county manager for Galway Corporation to limit any increase in rent arising from the implementation of the 1976 national differential rent scheme and general review of incomes to £2 per week, with effect from 1st July, 1976. On 25th March a notification was received of a resolution passed at a meeting of Galway Borough Council on 21st March urging me "to forego arrears of rent increases between July, 1976, to January, 1977".

It was intended that the terms of the 1976 national differential rent scheme would apply uniformly throughout the country, but in the special circumstances appertaining to Galway Corporation my Department informed the corporation on 6th April that I am prepared to allow a departure from the terms of the scheme on the following basis:

1. Rent increases resulting from the implementation of the scheme, which also incorporated the annual general review of incomes, to be limited to a maximum of £2 per week;

2. All increases to be applied from the operative dates specified in the 1976 scheme;

3. Rent increases exceeding £2 per week to be waived and all other rent arrears to be cleared as soon as practicable; and

4. The position to be re-examined when rents are next re-assessed following the annual review of tenants' incomes next July.

Is it a fact that tenants in the Galway Corporation area were informed in January, 1977, that their rents were being increased retrospective to July, 1976?

That is a matter for Galway Corporation and I am not so aware.

Is the Minister saying that he is not aware whether that is a fact or not?

I am not aware whether it actually happened or not. Galway Corporation would notify the tenants of rent increases and not the Department of Local Government.

Has the Minister been made aware of the fact that Galway Corporation informed the tenants in January, 1977, that rents would be increased retrospective to the previous July?

I have not that in my brief and I am not aware when the decision was taken.

Did the Minister receive representations from any source regarding the application of a rent increase retrospective to July, 1976? Was he made aware of the fact that the tenants were informed of this in January, 1977?

There is no note of any representations on my brief. I received representations from many people in Galway and the extraordinary thing is that some of them were not quite sure about what they wanted. They wanted reduced rents collected from the tenants and at the same time wanted additional money made available for repairs. They were prepared to pass resolutions on two conflicting things at one meeting.

Is the Minister aware that some tenants have received bills for arrears of rent which they did not know they had incurred? Is he aware that in some cases those bills amount to £150?

If that is so the matter should be taken up by the members of Galway Corporation with the corporation officials who would be failing in their duty if this is correct.

Is the Minister aware that these tenants are withholding the payment of the arrears pending the outcome of representations by the corporation to the Minister?

When I took over as Minister for Local Government I found that almost all the tenants in the country were withholding their rents.

Is the Minister aware that the tenants are withholding rents?

That question has already been put and repetition is not in order.

Tenants are not entitled to withhold payment of arrears or payment of rent and the Deputy is well aware of that.

The Minister is evading my question.