asked the Minister for Local Government the present housing construction programme of Dublin Corporation.
19.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Corporation Housing Programme.
18.
asked the Minister for Local Government what is the present housing construction programme of Dublin Corporation for the years 1966, 1967 and 1968; and if he considers this is adequate to meet the growing needs of the city.
I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 18 and 19 together.
In addition to the Ballymun project of 3,000 dwellings, Dublin Corporation have 1,243 dwellings in progress at present and intend to commence work on at least another 312 dwellings in the present financial year. Development work for a further 700 dwellings will also be started shortly. The corporation's housing programme envisages the completion of 962 dwellings during 1966-67, supplemented by an estimated 850 dwellings in the Ballymun project. While it is not possible at this stage to estimate the number of dwellings which will be completed in 1967-68 or 1968-69, working drawings and bills of quantities are being prepared for schemes, comprising 1,523 dwellings, on which the corporation hope to base their construction programme for 1967-68. Plans are under examination for further schemes comprising 1,865 dwellings. The output from the corporation's own programme will be augmented by about 1,100 dwellings in 1967-68 and 1,050 in 1968-69 from the Ballymun project.
The housing needs of Dublin city will not, of course, be fully met within the three-year period. When account is taken, however, of the very substantial effect which the Ballymun project will have on their approved waiting list, the corporation's programme for that period, adjusted as necessary in relation to available capital resources, should clear the present backlog of housing applicants and have a major impact on the solution of their longer-term housing problems.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that officials of Dublin Corporation one year ago said that the housing crisis would be almost solved by this year and in actual fact the situation is worse than it was 12 months ago despite all the plans the Parliamentary Secretary has announced there?
I do not know what the housing officials of Dublin Corporation said 12 months ago but I know that I have given the information sought in the question by the Deputy.
The Parliamentary Secretary will agree that the construction programme of Dublin Corporation is not adequate to meet the needs of this growing city?
It has never been adequate; that is why the Minister had to come in with Ballymun.
Does the Minister not think it is time to review the construction programme?
Is it not true that in other housing programmes outside Ballymun, for instance in the Coolock area, builders have been told they will get their money in stages, not after they finish work but only in bits and pieces and they have been warned not to go ahead too quickly with their work? Is that not true?
I do not know.
It is true.