asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he refused to sanction the proposal of the Dun Laoghaire Borough Council to acquire 37 acres of land at Dunardagh, Blackrock, County Dublin, for the purpose of erecting working-class dwellings; and, if so, on what grounds; whether he is aware that no alternative site is available convenient to the town of Blackrock or tolerably accessible to the workers in the vicinity in need of housing accommodation; whether he has suggested that the borough council proceed with the erection of alternative accommodation at Monkstown Farm, and, if so, if he will state on what evidence he based the view that the latter site is either suitable or acceptable to the workers concerned; whether he is aware that of the applicants for accommodation on the Dunardagh site, 221 are persons residing in overcrowded, insanitary or condemned houses in the town of Blackrock or in the district situated between Blackrock and Booterstown, and that it would be impossible for these applicants to avail of accommodation offered at Monkstown, as it is too far from their places of employment, inaccessible either to church or schools, and without convenient transport facilities; and whether he will reconsider the proposal of the local authority with a view to its approval.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Acquisition of Blackrock Lands.
On the 13th December last, I informed the Dun Laoghaire Borough Council that I was unable to approve of the proposal to acquire land at Dunardagh, Blackrock, for the purpose of erecting houses under the Housing of the Working Classes Acts. I pointed out that the scheme was designed to meet the entire needs of the borough, which extends for ten miles along the coast, and that, obviously, the concentration of all the houses on one particular site in a comparatively remote part of the borough was far from meeting actual requirements. Furthermore, the scheme was to consist almost entirely of three-roomed houses and I could not approve of a scheme for the provision of houses of such limited accommodation.
The evidence at the inquiry does not support the view that there is no alternative site available at Blackrock. I informed the council that they should consider a scheme for the erection of houses on land acquired by them some time ago at Monkstown Farm. The site is adjacent to a site on which the council have already erected a large number of houses. I further suggested to the corporation to explore the possibility of acquiring sites in other areas that would be located reasonably convenient for families in need of houses.
The evidence submitted at the inquiry does not corroborate the statement that 221 of the applicants for houses are living in the conditions described in the question.
The proposal was to acquire the land compulsorily and the decision is not one which can be reviewed.