andMr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state whether he has now considered the report submitted to him by the local authority relative to the housing scheme at Clara, Offaly; whether he is prepared to make public the terms of the report; and whether he proposes to have the scheme examined by an engineering officer of his Department.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Clara Housing Scheme.
The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. In the housing scheme in Clara to which the question refers there are 144 labourers' cottages. These were erected in the early years of the war and tenancies were allocated in the year 1942. The all-in cost of the scheme was approximately £62,000, or £430 per cottage. The cottages are of a type similar to that which has been erected in many other towns in Offaly, concerning which no complaints have been received from the tenants. They have water and sewerage. The economic rent is 11/- a week. The State subsidy contributes 3/10 to this, the rates 4/2 and the rent paid by the tenant is 3/-. The tenants of the Clara scheme have made a number of demands which, if acceded to, would raise the economic rent to 13/- a week. A number of works which have been demanded by the tenants were deferred in emergency conditions both because of scarcity of materials and in order to keep the rents charged to the tenants at a low figure.
The report submitted to me indicates that the main demands made by the tenants in this regard were for:—(a) the provision of two extra fireplaces in each house; (b) the provision of a turf-shed for each house; (c) the fencing of plots, repair of roadway and the provision of electric light.
The report also indicates that the tenants' representatives refused to accept an arrangement whereby part of the cost of the extra works would be borne by way of an increase in the rents; that the fencing of the plots had to be deferred owing to the supply situation but is at present in hands and will be completed within the next few months; that the repair of the roadway had to be deferred owing to a shortage of tar; that the Electricity Supply Board had intimated that owing to the prevailing supply conditions they are not in a position to extend their lines to this scheme at present.
Other demands, such as the removal of the ranges which had been installed in the houses, and the provision, free, of garbage bins, were made by the tenants. The report I have received indicates that the tenants were informed that garbage bins would not be supplied free by the county council, but the tenants were given the option of buying these articles at the contract price to the council; and that the tenants were not unanimous about having the ranges removed: some of them would not hear of such action being taken. It will be appreciated that houses provided by local authorities, heavily subsidised as they are from the rates and by the Exchequer, must be of standard design and provided with standard equipment; they cannot be provided with special amenities to suit all the individual requirements of particular tenants.
The matter, at this stage, is essentially one for the local authority, who I am informed have it under active consideration. No immediate action on my part is called for.
Is the Minister aware that the scheme is in a deplorable state and will he state if he is prepared to make public the full text of the report which he received from the county manager and, if so, if he would forward a copy of the report he received from the county manager to the county council for their observations and recommendations, and whether he is prepared to send down his Department's engineer to investigate and to find out if the scheme has been completed in accordance with the specifications laid down in the contract?
I am aware that these particular tenants are very lucky to be in occupation of houses which have been built during the war at such high cost to the community and that there are many other people who are without houses who are very envious of their condition. I do not propose to take any further action in the matter.
Is the Minister aware of the fact that for some time it has been impossible to get a tenant to go into the houses owing to the deplorable state of repair the new houses were in? In view of this, will the Minister send an engineer from his Department to see if the houses were completed in accordance with the specifications?
I am aware that all the houses are occupied and that, therefore, the Deputy's contention cannot be correct.
May I ask whether the reply which the Minister has just given is an extract from the report referred to in the question?
That is not a supplementary.
Mr. Morrissey
If it is not, I draw your attention to the fact, Sir, that the Minister has not replied to the question on the Order Paper. The Minister was dealing with something not contained in the question at all.
In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that, with your permission, I propose to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
Will the Minister say, in relation to the economic rent, which he says is 11/-, does he mean by the expression "economic rent" a rent that would meet all charges if there were no subvention from either the State or the local authority?
Precisely. On the question of the matter being raised on the Adjournment, I have answered this question very fully. I am aware that the Deputy who has put the question has been inciting people not to pay rent or rates and I do not propose to be present.
I have on no occasion advised people not to pay the rent in the scheme in question. I wish to contradict the Minister.
Is the Minister in order in stating that he will not return to reply to a question on the Adjournment?
Certainly. The Minister only attends by courtesy.
The Chair has no power to enforce the attendance of any Minister.
With your permission, I propose to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
He is a small loss if he never came back.