asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that there are more than a dozen families in the village of Carrigrohane living in insanitary houses which have been condemned as unfit for human habitation, and that two or three families in the village of Shanbally Upper are similarly living in houses unfit for human habitation, and whether, in these circumstances, he will state the grounds on which he refused to confirm a Compulsory Purchase Order (Non-Municipal Towns and Villages Compulsory Purchase Labourers and Housing Acts Order, 1937) for the villages of Carrigrohane and Shanbally Upper in the South Cork Board of Health area, and whether he will state what action he intends taking at an early date to remedy the conditions of the people in these two villages who are living under such insanitary conditions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing Conditions in County Cork.
In a report which was considered by the South Cork County Board of Public Health at a meeting on 15/3/37, the county medical officer of health recommended the provision of 12 new houses for the village of Carrigrohane to replace unhealthy insanitary dwellings and to relieve overcrowding, and also reported that there appeared to be at the most a necessity for two new cottages in the village of Shanbally. A Compulsory Purchase Order subsequently made by the board provided, inter alia, for the acquisition of two sites, one at Carrigrohane and the other at Shanbally Upper, for the erection thereon of twelve and two cottages, respectively. The two sites in question were excluded by me from the Confirming Order dated 15th ultimo for the following reasons:—Carrigrohane site—By reason of its unsuitable location at the junction of two main roads. Shanbally Upper site — An equally suitable alternative site was offered to and accepted by the board. I accorded sanction on 28th ultimo to the acquisition of the alternative site. I have requested the board to take immediate steps for the acquisition of an alternative site at Carrigrohane to that excluded from the Order.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the board are not in a position compulsorily to acquire any site for these houses unless a special order is made and will the Parliamentary Secretary be prepared to consider a request for a special order of which I have given notice of motion at the board of health?
If necessary.