asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he is aware that the houses known as "The Puzzle," in the village of Crumlin, County Dublin, which are inhabited by tenants of the South Dublin Rural District Council, were condemned so long ago as 1913, as being insanitary and unsafe; and whether, as the Council have not taken any steps to provide alternative accommodation for these tenants the Minister can take any action in the matter.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - CRUMLIN (CO. DUBLIN) HOUSES.
The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Eight of sixteen houses originally on this site have been demolished. The tenants of some of them have been provided with labourers' cottages. General sanitary accommodation has been provided for the remainder and some minor repairs carried out to the houses. The Council have reserved sites in the neighbourhood for the provision of further cottages, and I understand it is their intention to demolish the old houses and provide alternative accommodation.
Is the Minister aware of the appalling conditions prevailing there and that some evictions took place during the year and as a result at least one person has already died?
I am aware that the conditions were so bad that certain of the houses had to be destroyed. In the case of some tenants it was possible to give them other accommodation; but it will be some time before the Council can provide the additional accommodation necessary for all the tenants, but so far as it is within the power of the Council I understand they are giving the closest possible attention to the matter.
Is the Minister aware that it is generally stated locally that a number of houses that were built were given over to people outside the district?
I have no information on that point.
Is the Minister aware that a terrace of houses was built within a hundred yards of those houses, which were condemned twelve years ago, and not a single one of the tenants of the condemned houses was accepted as a tenant of the new houses built by the Council?
Personally, I have no information of that.
Will the Minister find out whether the facts as stated are true or not, or is he not concerned with the housing question in Clondalkin?
I would refer the Deputy to my reply.
I am of opinion that this is a very urgent matter. I have here before me particulars of the various families in this district. In one case there is a house which has really only one room, measuring about ten feet by nine, and there are ten people in it. There is not a complete proof over them.
In so far as any attention by the Department of Local Government can expedite matters that attention will not be withheld, but it must be understood it is a question of building houses.