asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state (1) the total number of labourers' cottages repaired in County Laoighis for the year ending 31st March, 1952, and the cost of such repairs, and (2) the number of cottages awaiting repair for six months or over and the cause of the delay in carrying out such repairs, and, further, if he will request the county manager to arrange for the necessary repairs to be carried out by contract or direct labour before the coming winter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Laoighis Cottage Repairs.
According to information furnished by the housing authority the total number of cottages repaired in County Laoighis during the year ended the 31st March, 1952, was 207 and the amount expended on repairs was £9,895.
The number of cottages awaiting repair for six months or over is 289, of which 46 are now under repair.
I understand that the cause of the delay in carrying out the required repairs on the remaining cottages is due to difficulty in having work commenced by contractors. The matter is being taken up with the housing authority.
The fact that the county manager, acting for the county council, cannot get suitable contractors to do the urgent repair work at the price laid down by his county engineer should be no reason why 289 cottages should not be repaired by some other method. Will the Minister use his influence to see that these people are not again forced to live in peculiar circumstances in some of these cottages during the coming winter?
We are aware of the difficulties of the local authorities. When they get tenders it is not easy to get the contractor to start work. This is no new difficulty but one which has existed for long so far as the building of labourers' cottages by local bodies is concerned. We are in touch with this particular body and we are doing everything we can to encourage them to get the work done as soon as possible.
Will not the Minister agree that there is an obligation on the local authority to see that urgent repairs are carried out?
I do not think the local authority would, in any case, refuse to accept that.