asked the Minister for Local Government if his attention has been drawn to a report of the appalling housing conditions in the town of Kanturk, County Cork; if it is true that regulations of his Department prevent a subsidy being paid to tenants who are lodgers in local authority houses; if married sons and daughters living in local authority houses with their parents do not qualify, as stated, for a local authority house; what authority is responsible for the fact that there are 25 families living in overcrowded bad housing conditions in Kanturk; and what steps he intends taking to see that this appalling condition of affairs is remedied immediately.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kanturk (Cork) Housing.
43.
Notwithstanding the allegations in the article to which the Deputy refers, the Housing Acts and the regulations made thereunder do not prevent a housing authority from rehousing workers with the aid of subsidies, whether or not such workers are subtenants of local authority dwellings or whether or not they are married relatives of registered tenants. As the Deputy is aware, housing authorities have a function to secure the elimination of unfit housing conditions. It is not, however, the responsibility of the housing authority to provide houses for persons who are in need of rehousing if, for example, the circumstances of the persons concerned are such that they could reasonably be expected to provide housing for themselves with the facilities available for the purpose from the State and from the local authorities. The initiation of proposals to provide houses rests, therefore, with the persons concerned or with the housing authority, as may be appropriate in particular cases.
Is the Minister aware that the total number of houses built in that town or district in the past 20 years by the local authority is six and they are not finished yet?
Is the Minister aware that in the area which has the responsibility for housing these people the rate in the £ for housing is 50 per cent higher than in any other part of Cork?
Hear, hear! I will be available at any time to arbitrate between Deputies Corry and Meaney.
We always knew you were a kind young man.