asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state (a) the total number of building sites in the County Borough of Dublin in the possession of the Corporation of Dublin; (b) the number of such sites on which it has been decided to build dwellings during 1950, and (c) the number of dwellings to be so erected.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Dublin Building Sites.
I understand that in addition to the 19 sites on which work on approximately 3,200 houses and flat dwellings is already in progress, the Dublin Corporation is in possession of a further 15 sites, which will accommodate 3,714 houses and 400 flats.
I understand that the corporation propose to commence building during 1950 at the rate of approximately 200 dwellings per month. Most of these undertakings will be on sites already acquired. It is not possible to say how many of the dwellings so undertaken will be completed during 1950.
Would the Minister not agree that it would be a better procedure to utilise the sites already in possession of the Dublin Corporation in the City of Dublin, many of which have been in their possession for a considerable time, rather than be acquiring land on the outskirts of the city and giving rise to new problems of transport and the difficulty of paying rents? There is a number of sites which have not been touched yet, although they have been in the corporation's possession for a considerable time.
According to my information, most of the schemes are to be on existing sites, but I take it that the corporation have to go on expanding and getting additional sites for further development. I am inclined to agree that they should build on those now developed, rather than go out further to new ones.
Would the Minister feel that a delay of 18 months in regard to one particular site is too long in view of the urgency of the housing problem? That is a site where they have not yet commenced.
I am not in a position to answer that question without having regard to the other schemes on which they are engaged.