asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that 12 glasshouses erected in the Tourmakeady area, County Mayo, were found to be defective in construction; and, if so, if he will state the conditions under which re-erected glasshouses will be given to allottees.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tourmakeady (Mayo) Glasshouses.
12.
The 12 glasshouses referred to by the Deputy are still under construction. They will not be handed over to the allottees until they have been satisfactorily completed.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary tell me what will be the extra cost over the original estimate?
The extra cost of the glasshouses in question will not in any way concern the Office of Public Works because the contractor is responsible for having the houses completed according to the specification to which he originally agreed. Any extra cost will be borne by the contractor in this case.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary give an assurance to the tenants concerned that he or somebody else will be responsible for any extra charges for defects that may be revealed later on?
In the specification for the construction of the houses in question, the contractor agrees that they will withstand a wind velocity of up to 90 degrees. During this month, some of them suffered damage from a wind velocity of 80 degrees and they have accepted liability to have them repaired as was agreed originally.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary realise that before there was a wind at all, the structure was not strong enough to hold up the weight of glass and that most of those glasshouses were dismantled, all the glass was cracked and even the foundation had to be buttressed by trusses to withstand the weight of glass?
I have no such information. All I know is that they are being constructed by a reputable firm and I am quite confident that they will hand them over as the specification requires.
That is the information from the tenants concerned.
I cannot allow an interminable number of questions.
I want to ensure that the people concerned will not bear any extra charges.