asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state (1) the total number of sites acquired for housing purposes by the southern area health committee of the Cork County Council since May, 1946; (2) the total number of sites built on and houses occupied; (3) the number of sites not yet paid for; (4) the reasons for nonpayment to the owners for the land acquired, and (5) if he will have steps taken to speed up payment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Cork Housing.
(1) Since May, 1946, the Cork County Council (southern committee) have acquired 552 sites on which they intend to erect 1,130 houses. (2) To date, 595 houses on these sites have been completed and occupied. (3) Compensation has not yet been paid in the case of 469 sites. (4) The delay in payment of compensation in these cases is due principally to the failure of the landowners concerned to produce acceptable evidence of clear title to the sites. (5) I have requested the local authority to expedite payment of compensation wherever this is possible.
asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware that (a) sanction for the erection of six houses at World's End, Kinsale, County Cork, has been requested by the Kinsale Urban Council, (b) houses have already been erected on an adjoining site to the one for which sanction is being requested, (c) there is great difficulty in securing adequate housing sites in the locality; and, if so, if he is prepared to accede to the request from the local authority concerned.
The answer to the first two portions of the question is "Yes".
I am not aware that it is impracticable to secure proper housing sites in the urban district. I am advised that the site now proposed at World's End is altogether unsuitable for housing purposes and I am not prepared to approve of the proposal to erect houses on it.
Is the Minister aware that houses have already been built on part of the site? It has been found by engineers and local authority architects to be a suitable site. Is the Minister also aware of the impossibility of getting suitable alternative sites, and will he have the matter reinvestigated to see why any inspector turned down this site?
I understand that there has been an inspection of available sites by the Department's inspector and the council's architect. Further, I understand that the houses built on the site were found to be unsuitable. These were reserved for fishermen and were only built there so that the fishermen would be near their nets and boats.
I beg to give notice that I intend to raise this matter on the adjournment.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that out of 469 plots taken over for housing under compulsory purchase order in 1948 by the South Cork Board of Health over 400 plots are still unpaid for; and, if so, if he will have steps taken to ensure that the owners are paid for their land within a reasonable time.
I understand that compensation has been paid by the Southern Committee of Cork County Council in respect of 77 of the 509 plots to be acquired for housing purposes by the council under their 1948 Compulsory Purchase Order. I have requested the council to endeavour to have the question of compensation in the remaining cases disposed of as quickly as possible.