Local Government Act, 1925

Tents and vans used for human habitation.

20.—(1) A tent, van, shed or similar structure used for human habitation, or a barge, lighter, boat or other vessel on any river, canal or other inland water (in this section referred to as “a barge”) used for human habitation, which is in such a state as to be a nuisance or injurious to health, or which is so over-crowded as to be injurious to the health of the inmates (whether they are or are not members of the same family), shall be deemed to be a nuisance within the meaning of section 107 of the Public Health (Ireland) Act, 1878 , and the provisions of that Act shall apply accordingly.

(2) A sanitary authority may make bye-laws for promoting cleanliness in, and the habitable condition of, tents, vans, sheds, and similar structures used for human habitation, or of barges used for human habitation, and for preventing the spread of infectious disease by the persons inhabiting the same, and generally for the prevention of nuisances in connection with the same.

(3) Where any person duly authorised by a sanitary authority has reasonable cause to suppose either that there is in any tent van, shed, or similar structure used for human habitation, or in any barge used for human habitation any contravention of the provisions of this section or any bye-law made under this section or that there is in any such tent, van, shed, structure or barge, any person suffering from a dangerous infectious disorder, he may, on producing (if demanded) either a copy of his authorisation purporting to be certified by the clerk or a member of the sanitary authority or some other sufficient evidence of his being authorised as aforesaid, enter by day such tent, van, shed, structure or barge, and examine the same and every part thereof in order to ascertain whether in such tent, van, shed, structure or barge, there is any contravention of any such bye-law or a person suffering from a dangerous infectious disorder.

(4) For the purpose of this section “day” means the period between six o'clock in the morning and the succeeding nine o'clock in the evening.

(5) If such person is obstructed in the performance of his duty under this section, the person so obstructing shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding forty shillings.

(6) Nothing in this section shall apply to any tent, van, shed, structure or barge erected or used by any portion of the Defence or Police Forces of Saorstát Eireann.