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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 6 Dec 1956

Vol. 160 No. 14

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cork Compulsory Purchase Order.

asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state the reasons for the delay in coming to a decision regarding the Cork County Council's application for a compulsory purchase Order in respect of building sites at Ballinacurra, Midleton, County Cork; and if, in view of the fact that an inquiry in the matter was held by an official of his Department in September, 1955, and that the delay is holding up three much needed housing schemes, he will expedite the matter.

A decision in this case was withheld by me because I considered that it was bad policy to erect six unserviced cottages at a distance of approximately a quarter mile from the village of Ballinacurra where piped water supply facilities are available. The reason put forward by the council for the provision of unserviced cottages was that the financial circumstances of the applicants were insufficient to pay the rents of serviced cottages.

I recently approved of a plan submitted by the council for a cheaper type of serviced cottage for use in villages in South Cork. This plan may case the difficulties in the Ballinacurra case in relation to the rents. In these circumstances I propose to defer a decision on the Order, so far as this site is concerned, so that the council may have an opportunity of further considering the provision of serviced cottages for the applicants concerned. This would involve the obtaining of an alternative site.

Is the Minister aware that, whether the house is serviced or not, has nothing whatever to do with the getting of the site? What is the use of trying to bluff like that at this time of the day? An inquiry was held, a Cheann Comhairle, by the Minister's Department in this matter some 15 months ago, an inquiry as to whether this site should be taken or not. Now, after 15 months, we get a rigmarole here as to whether the houses are to be serviced or unserviced, which has nothing whatever to do with the acquisition of the site.

Does the Deputy intend to ask a supplementary question?

I am asking the Minister a question.

I do not understand the question.

Neither does the Deputy.

I am asking the Minister is he aware that there are 16 houses needed in Ballinacurra, of which those mentioned in the reply are six, that the average weekly wage in the Ballinacurra area is £4 to £4 10s., that these people cannot afford to pay the rent of the ordinary serviced houses that at present receive the sanction of the Minister's Department and, above all, that the question of whether this site is to be acquired or not has nothing to do with the servicing of the houses?

Irrespective of what Deputy Corry may think, I am anxious that the labourers of West Cork should have the facility and the amenity of sewerage and water, if they are available at all.

Mr. de Valera

The first thing is a house.

When I find that, within a quarter of a mile of a village where there is sewerage and a water supply, it is proposed to build unserviced cottages, and when I have now sanctioned a cheaper type of cottage which may be erected, serviced, possibly, for the same price as these unserviced cottages, I think the matter is worth investigating. The people concerned may be poor, their wages may be small, but they are entitled at least to these amenities.

Question No. 54.

I should like to ask the Minister——

I have called Question No. 54.

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