asked the Minister for Local Government if he will undertake a special investigation into the failure of the local authority to provide a house for an applicant (name supplied) in Tullamore, in view of the fact that the applicant was recommended for tenancy of a vacant house by the local health inspector and County M.O.H.; and if he will ascertain under what circumstances these recommendations were not more favourably considered.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tullamore Housing Applicant.
27.
The letting of local authority houses and the determination of the order of preference in the selection of tenants are functions of the housing authority concerned and I do not propose to undertake a special investigation into this case.
May I ask the Minister if it is a fact that overcrowding is a qualification for housing?
It is one of the matters which should and is, to my knowledge, in all cases, taken into consideration before determining tenancy.
In view of the Minister's reply, is he aware that in this case there are living in a small room in a council house a man, his wife, a daughter aged 16 years and sons aged 14 years, ten years and four years? They are living in a council house owned by the applicant's brother who is married and has four children, an aged mother and an aged uncle—all in one house. When a case of that kind is brought to the notice of the Minister, he must feel bound to state why from the point of view of overcrowding more favourable consideration was not given.
I take it the Deputy is quite satisfied that every other hard case, so to speak, in that area has already been housed and that this is the top priority; furthermore, that all those seeking houses in that area in the past, who were living in bad housing conditions, have already been properly rehoused and that there is nobody left now but this applicant? Is that the position?
Is the Minister so satisfied?
I am asking whether the Deputy is satisfied.
I am asking the Minister. The Minister seems to be asking me the questions.
For the very good reason that the Deputy is from the part of the country to which he directs this question in which he implies matters which are not facts in regard to the manner and method whereby the tenancy was allocated, statements as to the recommendations of the county medical officer of health and the local health inspector's recommendations and somebody driving a coach and four through those regulations. All that is implied in the question. I should be glad of further information if he is satisfied that there are no outstanding cases of people badly overcrowded in or around this area, except this person who applied for the first time only last January.
This is the worst case in the matter of re-housing in Tullamore. Can the Minister give me information now of a worse case of housing needs in Tullamore?
Could the Minister say —I know nothing about this case— whether or not this applicant is eligible to be re-housed in a new house, due to the fact that he is in a council house at the present time?
That is another day's work.
That prevents this man from getting a house.
It does not. It does not arise.
Why has this man not obtained a house? We have clear evidence of overcrowding, of grown-up boys and girls, all living, eating and sleeping in the one room. It is inhuman and unChristian.
My information is that the Deputy is a member of the council in question.
I am not a member.
The Deputy is a member of the parent body, which is the county council.
I am not.
The Deputy should be.
Mr. Donnellan
He will—yet.
May I enlighten the Minister? I reside in Laois and I am a member of the Laois County Council, not the Offaly County Council. I am hoping to be a member of the Offaly County Council in the future.
I was rather concerned because I felt Deputy Flanagan was a member of this council.
If I were, this person would be housed.
I thought the Deputy would know what is going on in Tullamore. Now, having learned that he is not a member of the county council, I appreciate that he does not know what is going on and is not aware of his facts.
That is why I am asking the question. Will the Minister give us an idea as to whether this applicant was or was not recommended by the county medical officer of health?
The Deputy makes the assertion this was so. The Deputy asks whether it is so.
Will the Minister confirm it is so?
I will not.
Will the Minister deny it is so?
I will not deny it is so.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I wish to raise this matter on the Adjournment, in view of its great importance to my constituency and the housing of the people whom I have the honour to represent.
I shall communicate with the Deputy.