asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if, in view of the fact that supplies of cement, sand and gravel are obtainable in the country, he will make funds available to public bodies all over the country to give employment, by developing sites for housing, so as to facilitate the completion of such housing schemes when the emergency is over.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Development of Housing Sites.
Local authorities were advised two years ago to give special attention to housing needs and to have plans prepared so as to be in a position to undertake building operations when more favourable conditions prevail. They were specially informed that in drawing up contract documents site development work should be treated separately, so that, if necessary, these works could be started in advance of actual building operations. Where suitable proposals of this nature are submitted, special consideration is given to the financing thereof.
Besides cement, sand and gravel, there are other materials required for the development of sites for housing and some of them are not readily obtainable.
The Dáil has talked about post-war planning and we have to-day men queueing up at the labour exchanges and going to England. I suggest that the Minister should make funds available to all public bodies for development work. The sites are available and we have the gravel and cement.
Has the Deputy a supplementary question to ask?
I am putting it to the Minister that it is now we need the work and not after the war.
I must say that when this question was put down, I was puzzled to know what the Deputy was getting at. I do not know even yet. The fact is that, so far back as 1943, the Department circularised all the local authorities and urged them, since they could not go ahead with their normal building programmes, to prepare and develop building sites where they were available, and financial assistance has been given to local authorities to do that.
Is the Minister aware that, in my constituency, every time a cottage belonging to a public authority becomes vacant there are at least 16 to 25 applicants for it?
Can the Minister say whether the Department has taken any steps to ascertain to what extent the local authorities carried out the request or the instruction issued by the Department two years ago?
The Department has this matter under constant observation.
I am asking the Minister whether any steps have been taken to ascertain to what extent local authorities have tried to meet the Department's desires in this matter.
Very definite steps have been taken to ascertain that.
Will the Minister say with what result?
I should require notice of that question.