asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state on what date the County Dublin Board of Health forwarded to his Department the names of the persons to whom houses had been allotted in Shankill, County Dublin; the reason for the delay in dealing with eight of such houses for several months after his approval had been given in respect of the remainder of the houses; and whether as the houses in question have been vacant for at least six months and that the persons to whom they have been allotted are in urgent need of them, the Minister will give his decision without further delay.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Delay in Sanctioning Letting of County Council Houses in Dublin.
The names of the 63 persons selected for the 64 cottages at Shankill were submitted to my Department for approval on the 14th and 22nd June last, and approval to the Board's selection was issued on the 26th idem.
Subsequently seven of the persons so selected refused to take the cottages allotted to them. The Board of Health then selected alternative tenants for the seven cottages and one for the cottage for which no previous selection had been made. The eight names were submitted on the 29th August.
As a result, however, of representations having been received from other applicants for cottages in the Dublin County Health District the Board of Health, on 26th October last, was directed to place all applications for cottages before the county medical officer of health for report. The county medical officer of health is at present engaged in inspecting the existing accommodation of all the applicants, and a decision will be given at an early date.
Arising out of the Parliamentary Secretary's reply, would he say if there is any precedent for the procedure here adopted?
That is the usual procedure.
Is it the usual procedure to override the decision of the Board of Health by way of referring the Board's decision to the county medical officer of health?
The usual procedure is to get a report from the medical officer of health as to the conditions of habitation of the applicants. That is the usual procedure.
Is it the usual procedure to require the medical officer of health to investigate the living conditions of all and sundry before the recommendation of the Board of Health is carried out in respect of the applications upon which they have passed judgment?
Not all and sundry—only the applicants.
So the situation now is that the function of making those recommendations has been taken out of the hands of the local authorities, who represent the people and know the local conditions, and has been handed over to the medical officer of health? Might I ask the Parliamentary Secretary if this procedure is adopted what is the use of going through the form of asking the Board of Health to make any recommendation at all?