asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware that grave dissatisfaction exists regarding the allocation of houses by the Dublin County Council and the Dún Laoghaire Borough Corporation, and if he will state what steps his Department intend to take to ensure that the allocations are equitable in every regard and that all undue influence is excluded.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Allocation of Houses.
I am not aware that grave dissatisfaction exists regarding the allocation of houses by the Dublin County Council and the Dún Laoghaire Borough Corporation. No special administrative action by my Department is required to regulate lettings, as housing authorities are already bound by the provisions of statutory regualtions governing the allocation of houses. Strict observance of these regulations will ensure that the selection of tenants is made in the manner required by law and that all undue influence is excluded.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state the reasons for the rejection of an application for a council house by Mrs. Kathleen McGrath and her husband, of 3 Farranboley Cottages, whether he is aware that Mrs. McGrath, with her husband, who was discharged from the Army after an attack of pulmonary tuberculosis, and three children live in a small house with her father's family; that in all 14 people dwell there, that one of them is in hospital suffering from tuberculosis of both lungs, that one of the family died from acute tuberculosis and another from infantile paralysis, and that the conditions under which the family exist are due to the shortage of houses; and, if so, what steps he proposes to take to remedy this situation.
I understand that the tenancy of the labourer's cottage at Dean's Grange, for which Mr. McGrath applied was allocated, in accordance with the statutory regulations governing priorities, to the family which the chief medical officer reported as being in greatest need of rehousing. The Dublin County Council expect to complete 180 cottages at Farranboley during the summer of the present year to meet the housing needs of that district, and I am informed that Mr. McGrath's application will then be considered by the council.
Will the Minister say, in respect of a house which was vacant recently, whether Mr. McGrath was an applicant, and whether his application was dealt with?
His application was considered in conjunction with 28 other applications. The house was given to an applicant, an active tubercular case, with a family of six, who were living in one small room and a kitchen.
There are 14 here.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state the reasons for the extraordinary delay in the provision of houses for families living in deplorable conditions by the Dublin County Council and the Dún Laoghaire Borough Corporation; if he will indicate whether it is the practice of his Department to dictate to local authorities the methods and terms by which houses are allocated, and whether, in order to safeguard the Christian fundamentals on which family life is based, and to terminate the many cases of separation of fathers from their wives and children, he will take adequate remedial steps at once in respect of the areas concerned.
I am not aware that there has been any extraordinary delay in providing houses in either County Dublin or the Borough of Dún Laoghaire. On the contrary, the Dublin County Council have provided 313 cottages between February, 1948, and February, 1950, and have at present 716 cottages in course of erection. Sites have been acquired for a further 340 cottages. These figures amount to 1,369 cottages, which is much more than half of the estimated housing needs of the county, namely, 2,500 cottages. In addition, compulsory purchase orders providing for the acquisition of sites for approximately 435 cottages have been made by the council and a further order providing for approximately 102 cottages is in course of preparation.
In the Borough of Dún Laoghaire, 212 houses have been completed since 31st March, 1947, up to the 28th ultimo and 377 were in progress on that date. Sites for a further 132 houses have been acquired and plans approved for 86 of these. These figures total 721 houses, which is almost 75 per cent. of the estimated needs of the borough, which are 1,000 houses. In addition, sites for 176 houses are proposed for acquisition.
In view of these achievements attained notwithstanding the obstacles which have been encountered, such as difficulty in obtaining suitable sites and certain types of skilled labour and materials, I do not think that it can be fairly contended that the Dún Laoghaire Corporation and the Dublin County Council are not making satisfactory progress in the provision of houses.
In regard to the methods and terms by which houses are allocated, the procedure to be followed and the preferences to be given in the letting of houses are clearly laid down in statutory regulations with which the local authorities must comply. The only function exercised by my Department in this matter is to see that in allocating houses and cottages provided with the aid of subsidy under the 1932 Act there is strict compliance with the regulations.
Would the Minister kindly answer the latter part of my question which relates to the separation of fathers from their wives and children?
I think I have answered the question as fully as I can answer it. The efforts being made by the authorities at the moment are the best answer I can make to the question.
I do not think so.