asked the Minister for Local Government when the building of houses will commence at John Street and at the Faythe, Wexford, so that there will be continuity of employment for workers at present engaged at the housing scheme in Fisher's Row.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wexford Housing Schemes.
9.
As there are no proposals before my Department at present from Wexford Corporation for the building of houses at John Street, or the Faythe, Wexford, I am not in a position to say if or when building will be commenced on these schemes.
Could the Minister say whether there have been any recent discussions between the officials of the Corporation and officials of his Department with regard to the feasibility of building in these areas?
Yes, in reply to the Deputy, there have been discussions quite recently between some officers of the local authority and my Department.
Could the Minister say whether his officials expressed any opinion as to whether or not houses should be built there?
Not tying myself strictly to the reply, I think the position is rather the other way and, as a result of the recent discussions, we are awaiting some further expression of views from the manager of the authority concerned.
As a last question, could the Minister say when that request was made, approximately?
It is not so much a request, but the discussions that I have been referring to took place, I think, about a week ago.
Only a week ago?
The last of them. There may have been others before that.
Previous to that discussion there were discussions between the Minister's officials and the officials of the Corporation.
I have no doubt that would be the case. There have been continuous discussions, one might say.
Does the Minister appreciate the necessity for speeding up the building of houses in those areas where housing is required, in view of the fact that the scheme that is now in operation will be closed down pretty soon, which means that there will be skilled and unskilled men who will have to have recourse to employment elsewhere and outside this country?
I agree entirely with the Deputy. If a need is shown to exist, he can rest assured that my Department will do everything to help.