asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state (a) the number of county council houses built since October, 1948, (1) in Killorglin electoral area, and (2) in Killarney electoral area, disregarding the urban area, and if he will further state the cause of delay in erecting cottages where plots are available for applicants, what steps are being taken to set a housing drive in motion in South Kerry, what plans have been approved, the estimated cost per house and the estimated weekly rent.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Kerry Housing.
(1) Nil and (2) 7. Prior to the confirmation in recent months of compulsory purchase orders the Kerry County Council had available only 59 plots for the erection of cottages. Arrangements were made in 1949 for the erection of cottages on these plots with the exception of seven in South Kerry for which the house plan proposed by the council was considered unsuitable. The council have now proposed that the plans approved last month for the Ballyseedy scheme be adopted for these seven plots and for other plots recently acquired and this proposal has been sanctioned.
The recent appointment of a housing engineer for South Kerry and the approval given to the acquisition of a considerable number of sites in the area should enable the council to expand housing activity appreciably in the current year. Sanction has been issued to the adoption of house designs similar to those which have been approved for use in North Kerry. In addition, plans for the erection of ten cottages in the Killorglin area were approved earlier this year.
The estimated cost of houses erected in South Kerry area to date ranges from £750 to £1,200 and proposed rents are 6/8 per week, exclusive of rates. Accurate estimates for future cottages are not possible at this stage.