asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he will instruct the Housing Committee to inquire into and hear evidence on the question of what is the most suitable accommodation to provide in urban flats designed for the least well-to-do families.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Accommodation in Urban Flats.
The provision of flat dwellings has been almost exclusively confined to Dublin and the accommodation in such dwellings has been carefully arranged by the technical staff of the Dublin Corporation. I am satisfied that every aspect of the matter will continue to receive careful consideration in relation to the needs of the persons to be housed, as well as in relation to the sites to be built upon.
Am I to take it from the Minister's reply that he will not ask the Housing Committee to enquire into and hear evidence on the question of what is the most suitable accommodation to provide for families in flat buildings in Dublin?
Yes.
May I ask why?
Because I am satisfied that every aspect of the matter is receiving, and will continue to receive, careful consideration.
Does the Minister not think that the Housing Committee, which apparently does absolutely nothing, would provide a useful forum in order that people who might differ from the Minister's experts could make their opinions known and urge their case that the vital necessity for a working-class family in this city is one decent living-room rather than a whole rabbit warren of dark small cubby-holes such as are at present being provided in some of the flat buildings in Dublin?
I am not going to allow the Deputy to get away with the statement that rabbit warrens or dark small cubby-holes are being built in Dublin. That is not the case. No later than last week I visited some of the flats about to be occupied on the south side of the city and I can say that they are as good as any buildings I have seen in different cities in Europe that are regarded as setting a headline.
Will the Minister indicate what is the rent of the new flats?
It works out at 2/- a room, 6/- and 8/- a week, and the economic rent would be 16/- or 18/-.