asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he is aware that hundreds of cottages in County Wexford are in a very bad state of repair, and that numerous complaints have been made to the board of health on the matter; and whether, in view of the fact that any delay in the formulation of a comprehensive scheme will make it uneconomic to repair many of these cottages, he will now state when it is intended to send an official, as promised, to make a complete inspection of this matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Condition of Wexford Cottages.
I have ascertained from the Wexford Board of Health and Public Assistance that during the year ended 31st March last complaints were made to them as to the need for the repair of cottages. I am satisfied that the board of health and public assistance are fully alive to the necessity for keeping the cottages in repair, and that the rate of progress on this work is reasonable. During the last financial year 543 cottages were repaired.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, my information in regard to those cottages is that they have been in a bad state for the last five or six years. The matter has been reported to me several times. I have gone to see some of the cottages, and found that they were not fit for human habitation. Surely to goodness it is the duty of the Minister to see that those unfortunate people will not have to spend another winter like the last one. Some of those cottages are neither windproof nor weatherproof. In many of them the people have to pull their beds into the middle of the room to get them away from the damp walls.