asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he can state the number of condemned houses in County Dublin at present occupied; and whether any, and, if so, how many, are considered dangerous.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - CONDEMNED HOUSES IN COUNTY DUBLIN.
The information asked for is not available in the Department.
Is the Minister not aware of the conditions of houses in some of the districts in County Dublin? For instance, there are houses in the Malahide district that have been condemned as far back as 1914, and within the last three or four years three of them have fallen in on the occupants. I have seen some of these houses myself recently. In one particular case the rafters are badly cracked, and the roof is being held up by a board resting on the mantelpiece. There is grave danger of these roofs falling in on the occupants.
I said in reply to the Deputy that the Department of Local Government and Public Health has no information as to the numbers of condemned houses. If the Deputy wants to get the numbers of condemned houses in the various areas in Co. Dublin and how many are occupied, he will have to apply to the sanitary authorities concerned.
Is the Minister aware that the Local Government Department has power to sanction long term loans to the local authorities to have new houses erected in place of condemned houses?
That is another question.
Could the Minister guide Deputies in this matter as to how these houses are to be remedied?
I do not propose to guide them at present.
Does it not seem strange that a house should be condemned in 1914, and that I have before me a letter asking the occupants of one of these houses to vacate the house?
The letter is dated 16th July, 1914. Already three of the houses have fallen in on the people and nothing has been done, the explanation being that nobody was killed. There is a danger of the three remaining houses falling in.
There have been several Housing Bills passed.
But the local people are not getting the advantage of them.