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During the year 41 of the "special medical" cases were allocated for re-housing. (The
remaining 10 were allocated in January 1969). 30 of the 51 "special medical" cases concerned
applicants aged 60 years or over.
Certificates of Disrepair - Rent Acts 1957 and 1968
During the year seven applications were received for certificates of disrepair, but in one case
the issue of a certificate was not considered to be justified. One certificate was cancelled during
the year.
FOOD HYGIENE
In undertaking a review of the work of the Food Hygiene Section during 1968, one is struck by
the fact that during the year nothing of dramatic interest comes to mind. The work which had to be
done, was, however, carried out with enthusiasm. This was manifested not in a noisy way but by
quiet dogged determination of the members of the Section to do what may well appear to be routine
work conscientiously. This is the work which calls to itself no special notice by others and is, in
fact, so unobtrusive that if one neglected to do it at all none would be immediately the wiser. It
can, however, be logically concluded that this "preventive" work is the reason that no situation was
so neglected as to enable it to degenerate and assume proportions where drastic action had to be
taken to effect a remedy. Inspectors are constantly visiting food premises of all kinds not only to
make thorough inspections to ensure that the various Regulations are being observed but to "pop in"
for an informal visit regarding difficulties and problems existing in various fields. This enables
them not only to gain some insight into the background of the various trades and industries but
secures firm personal relationships based on mutual understanding and respect. It is in this
atmosphere that suggestions and comments can often be made to secure standards far higher than
could be enforced by existing legislation.
The battle is, however, far from won and every inspector will know that there are invariably
some premises in his area where frequent visits are imperative to obtain and maintain even the
minimum standards demanded by legislation.
Although it has been preached almost "ad nauseam" over the past years, it was evident from the
number of unsatisfactory purchases made by the members of the public and drawn to the attention of
the Department that the necessity for strict stock rotation has still not impressed a large number of
traders. The efforts of the Section have and will continue to be directed towards securing an
appreciation of the need for vigilance in this direction.