asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that no private person, company or local authority is dealing with the question of the housing of the Dublin poor at rents which they can afford; and, if so, if he will state if he proposes to take steps to deal with the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Housing.
The provision of houses for the working classes is a statutory obligation of local authorities. The Deputy, who is a member of the Corporation of Dublin, must be well aware that the local authority has exercised and continues to exercise its powers in this respect as fully as conditions permit. Previous to 1st September, 1939, the Dublin Corporation had provided 17,616 dwellings; between the 1st September, 1939 and 31st December, 1944, the corporation provided 4,777 dwellings, and to date plans have been approved and preliminary works have been undertaken for 2,500 more dwellings. The rents of the dwellings already provided by the corporation vary from 1/7 a week to 14/2 a week inclusive of rates.
In these circumstances the latter part of question does not arise.
I am perfectly aware of all the Minister has stated and I now repeat my question. Is the Minister aware that there is no authority in this city building or providing accommodation for people who are in very poor circumstances? There is no one building for the 2/6 a week room dweller, or even the 4/- a week room dweller. There are some thousands of such in the tenements of Dublin, and they are not being provided for, although their houses are threatened with demolition.
Is the Deputy asking a supplementary question?
I will now come to the question. The Minister said I was aware of certain things and then he tried to cover them up and did not answer.
Question!
Now I am asking the Minister is he aware that there is no authority in this city providing accommodation for the poor or the lowly-paid workers at rents which they can pay; and will he or his Department devise some means of doing so and advise the local authorities or others that they can do so with the assistance of the Government? All I want to assure the Minister is that there are thousands threatened with eviction.
That is not a question; it is a statement.
I am aware that the Dublin Corporation has erected over 22,000 dwellings.
At 10/- a week.
I do not propose to answer if the Deputy does not wish to listen.
At 10/- a week.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, would he say is it his opinion that the report of the housing committee—that he himself set up— which was recently published is also a slovenly and incompetent document?
That is a different question.
It is a separate question but one which I venture to say he will not answer.
And which should not be asked now.
I am asking him who will house the poor at rents which they can pay?
The Deputy has repeated that four times.
The Minister says the corporation are building houses. I say at 10/- a week.
The Deputy did not listen to the Minister's reply. Ceist a sé.
I did, very carefully, and he tried to cover up by saying that the corporation had built thousands of houses — at 10/- a week.
Question No. 7.