asked the Minister for Local Government if he has made any estimate of probable housing needs for the next fifteen to twenty years in (a) the city and county of Dublin, (b) the province of Leinster, and (c) the country as a whole; and, if so, if he will state what the future of the housing industry is likely to be in the areas referred to during that period.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing Needs.
19.
No estimate of the overall housing needs for the next 15 to 20 years in the areas mentioned by the Deputy has been made. The results of the survey of unfit housing taken in conjunction with the results of the last census in relation to housing statistics, when they are available, are expected to provide a suitable basis on which an up-to-date assessment of approximate overall housing needs can be made.
As regards private housing in the country as a whole, the number of grant allocations for new houses last year exceeded 5,700. It is expected that the volume of new house-building under the present scheme of grants administered by my Department will continue at or over this number for a considerable time to come.
Would the Minister tell us whether all the existing machinery for dealing with the grave housing situation in Dublin city and county is sufficient and whether, if it is not sufficient, he will consider widening its scope to meet the situation?
If it can be shown to me that it is not, I shall certainly take steps to make it so.