asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state why 13 small building contractors who have been engaged in the erection of houses at Kincora, Clontarf, have had to suspend their work owing to the non-issue of licences by his Department; if he is aware that those contractors were working to plans which had been sanctioned by the Town Planning Officer of the Dublin Corporation and by the Department of Local Government; if he is further aware that, owing to this delay in issuing licences, 150 men have been thrown out of employment and over 100 married men, with families, are delayed in securing houses; and if, in view of these circumstances, he will cause the necessary licences to be issued immediately to enable work to be resumed without delay.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Licences for Building Contractors.
These contractors were informed on the 18th December last that building licences would be issued to authorise them to begin work in the month of February. They were warned at the same time that building operations were not to be started in anticipation of the issue of the licences. Despite this warning, operations were started and in some cases carried to an advanced stage.
The execution of these operations constituted an offence and the matter will be referred to the legal advisers with a view to the institution of proceedings against the offenders.
Building licences for the completion of the operations in question will be issued in due course.
What does the Minister mean by "in due course"? The position is that these people are building houses to house up to 100 people and are refused a licence, while gentlemen from France and England can come over here and spend £500,000 on the building of camps for people who come over here on pleasure steamers.
The Deputy is making a speech on an extraneous matter.
I am asking why people from France and England can get contractors to build holiday camps while contractors who are anxious to build houses cannot get a licence.
The issue of building licences is conditioned by the supply of material and the availability of labour in different parts of the country. The individuals concerned in this question decided to defy the authority of my Department and they cannot be allowed to do that without upsetting the whole arrangement for the regulation of building activities in the country.
Will the licences be issued shortly?
They will be issued in due course.