asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware that much disappointment is felt by the residents of Portmarnock at the prolonged delay in commencing (a) the housing scheme, (b) the sewerage scheme, and whether he will state when work on these schemes will be commenced.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Portmarnock Housing.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state the reason for the delay in the building of county council cottages at Portmarnock, County Dublin.
With your permission, a Chinn Chomhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 35 together.
As indicated in replies to several previous questions last year, considerable legal difficulties were experienced by the Dublin County Council in connection with the acquisition of a site for houses in Portmarnock. These difficulties were not finally resolved until November, 1949. Plans for approximately 60 fully serviced houses are now being prepared and will, I understand, be submitted for approval shortly. The installation of sanitary services should synchronise with the completion of the houses and I understand that the council is considering the preparation of a section of the drainage scheme for that purpose. In the meantime, I cannot say when these schemes will be commenced.
Is the Minister aware that the general sewerage scheme for Portmarnock was turned down last year, and is he in a position to state now will this general sewerage scheme be carried out during the coming year because there has been a big disappointment in that district in regard to the general sewerage scheme? The sewerage scheme to which the Minister referred is only a short sewerage scheme relating to 60 houses.
It is the one about which the question has been asked.
Is the Minister aware that what Deputy Burke has stated is not correct——
I say it is.
——that in fact the sewerage scheme has not been turned down but has been postponed for consideration by the county council? Is he further aware that the treatment of this scheme and the delay in dealing with it have been scandalous? We have been put off for two years. Will he instruct the county council to deal with the matter speedily? Is he aware that the members of the county council are anxious that it should be dealt with without delay and will he instruct the law agent and the officials to get on with their work?
The Dublin County Council commenced negotiations with Mr. McCarthy for the purchase of land for housing purposes on the 21st April 1948. A proposal was received in the Department for the purchase of nine acres on the 24th November 1948 and sanction in principle issued on the 2nd December 1948. A difficulty arose in connection with the site through the discovery of two superior interests with whom negotiations were entered into by the council. The legal difficulties in connection with the site involved protracted negotiations and in the case of one of the interests the title documents were lost and the whereabouts unknown. This complicated the whole transaction. Arrangements were finally made in November 1949 by the council's law agent for the purchase of a site and the terms of the purchase were approved on the 16th November, 1949. On the 16th December 1949, plans were received for the erection of 31 rural type houses on the site. These were examined by the Department's staff and as a result a rather long letter, which I do not propose to quote, was issued to the council on the 5th January 1950. Arising from that the number was extended so as to bring it more into consonance with the demands of the locality and the operation of the sanitation scheme.
Is the Minister further aware——
Question No. 36.