asked the Minister for Local Government what steps, if any, he has taken to ensure that site development work in relation to housing in Dublin is proceeded with and that the 50 men who have already been disemployed by the Dublin Corporation are re-employed and that no further men employed on this work by the Dublin Corporation are put out of employment as a result of administrative difficulties between his Department and the Dublin Corporation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing in Dublin.
All necessary steps were taken at an early stage to acquaint the corporation of the general and detailed planning which is an essential preliminary to the carrying out of site development works for housing schemes. The corporation's technical officers were made fully aware of these requirements at conferences in the Department on various occasions in May, July, August and October, prior to the issue of official letters on the matter in October and November.
There are no administrative difficulties in this matter as between my Department and the Dublin Corporation, but the responsible sections of the corporation appear to have encountered difficulties in co-ordinating and timing their several parts in the operations which must be undertaken to ensure that the houses will be of good design, properly laid out and with adequate domestic and environmental services and amenities. This aspect of the matter was brought to the personal notice of the city manager and he has now arranged to meet the responsible officers of the Department on Friday next when it is expected that he will submit proposals for the better co-ordination and expediting of the various stages of planning, development and building.
May I take it that meanwhile the Minister will ensure that no more men are disemployed on site development work in the City of Dublin? Further may I ask the Minister whether he is now aware that over 100 men, not 50 men as he stated previously, were in fact disemployed?
I am not so aware. I can give the Deputy an assurance that, to whatever extent the responsibility rests with my Department, that responsibility will be expeditiously discharged.
And to ensure that no more men will be disemployed?
I am ensuring that I shall discharge my responsibility properly.
Does that involve ensuring that men are not needlessly put out of employment because of administrative difficulties between the Department officers and the corporation?
May I point out to the Minister that, at the last meeting of the housing committee of the corporation, it was indicated to the committee that the delay which had taken place in connection with the Ballyfermot site development was mainly attributable to the fact that officers of his Department were trying to get more detailed plans than had hitherto been requested? May I take it that he will see that his officials do not require this extra data and that they will be satisfied with the same type of housing plans as had been available to them for a number of years past?
I think it undesirable that I should attempt to place or apportion the blame for any hold-up of the nature that has occurred as between the local authority and my officials. That is a task that should not be undertaken by any Minister. I want to assure the Deputy that, in the case of the principal housing sites in Dublin, the position is that the initiative now rests with the corporation in regard to Ballyfermot, Donnybrook, Raheny and Dolphin's Barn, and that only in the case of Rathfarnham can it be said that any slight delay might be attributed to my Department.
Whatever the position is, will the Minister ensure that no more men are disemployed on these schemes?
May I point out to the Minister that it was the expressed opinion of the Housing Director that more detailed and extensive data were now being requested by the Department of Local Government than heretofore?
It is possible that we may have found it necessary to ask for more detail, but we cannot help that.