Vol. 211 No. 1
asked the Minister for Local Government if in view of the fact that husbands are separated from their wives and families in the emergency conditions of housing provided at Griffith Barracks, and that they have now been so for several months, he is satisfied that Dublin Corporation are taking all possible steps to end the legitimate grievances of the occupants of Griffith Barracks who are in need of suitable housing accommodation.
67.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he can state when the families now separated from one another and living in Griffith Barracks, Dublin and elsewhere can be rehoused in houses provided for them by Dublin Corporation.
I propose with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 66 and 67 together.
The accommodation available for families in Griffith Barracks is provided by the Dublin Health Authority. Dublin Corporation have already taken steps to increase their housing output and have also made arrangements to assist any of the families living in Griffith Barracks, who wish to do so, to purchase houses. I am not in a position to state whether, or when, any particular family will be rehoused by the Corporation.
As it is clear from the Minister's reply that the Corporation cannot hope to accommodate these families for some years to come, could the Minister make any suggestion to the Corporation as to how these families could have their accommodation in Griffith Barracks improved, even by the provision of cubicles, so that they can resume normal family life? The position at the moment is that they are living in a ghetto. It is an appalling state of affairs.
The only information I have is that certain improvements have been made in the accommodation in Griffith Barracks, and, as regards those who are there, they are not in the top priority class for rehousing by the Corporation and, taking them generally, their hopes of early housing accommodation from the Corporation are not very bright.
I can see that and I would ask the Minister to inquire from the Corporation if they could provide some form of cubicle accommodation so that these husbands and wives and their families can live together in a reasonably normal way? Pending the rectification of the serious position of housing in the city, is it possible they could be given conditions in which they could be reunited?
I shall ask the Corporation, but, knowing the pressure under which they are in regard to other priority cases, it is more hope than faith I have that they can do anything specific about this type of case.
There would not be much difficulty in putting up a partition.
Is the Minister aware that this is solely a matter for the health authority, not the Dublin Corporation, and that the health authority could be asked to erect some kind of partition so that these people can live with their families? Is the Minister further aware that Dublin Corporation refused to accept responsibility? They have a large list and they house people in accordance with priorities.
Partitions have recently been constructed there. Whether all that are needed have been constructed, I do not know but certainly partitions have been constructed.
That is all they are looking for. I interviewed them a few days ago and they said the partition would satisfy them.
