(Cavan) asked the Minister for Local Government if, in view of the acute housing shortage in Cavan town, he will approve of the plans for the Mitchel Street housing scheme which were submitted on the 12th July last to his Department.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cavan Housing.
16.
My Department is awaiting the submission of a revised layout providing for an increased number of houses on the site. The necessity for such a revision of the layout was agreed in a recent discussion between technical officers of my Department and the housing authority.
(Cavan): Might I appeal to the Minister to get rid of the red tape and approve of the plans for the building of these houses, in view of the fact that not one solitary house has been built by the local authority in Cavan town since 1952? Is the Minister aware that bad and all as the housing situation is in Cavan town at the moment, it would be utterly unbearable were it not for private building which has taken place there? Further, is the Minister aware that as a result of the drying up of money for house building, private building has become more difficult in Cavan and it is therefore a matter of absolute urgency that the proposed scheme be sanctioned forthwith?
The Deputy is much too glib in his description of the situation in Cavan town.
(Cavan): Not a bit.
And he gives away the situation when he says that no houses were built there since 1952. He attributes the situation to red tape but the situation in Cavan so far as this particular scheme is concerned, is that the compulsory purchase order was confirmed by me on 31st March last, and in July last the housing authority submitted a layout plan, specifications, estimated cost and so forth, for 20 houses on the site. These documents were referred to my Department's inspector who deals with this matter and he, having inspected the site, felt that it was not being fully utilised by the proposed draft layout. Accordingly, he contacted the responsible local officials and technical people to point this out to them. Quite recently, he has again had discussions with the architect who is doing this job and who agrees with my inspector that more houses can and will be accommodated on this site. I am now awaiting this revised layout. That is really the situation.
(Cavan): Could the Minister tell the House when the request for the revised layout was conveyed to Cavan Urban Council?
I have not got the date for that but what I have got is the date for the second occasion on which there was a discussion. That was on the 5th of this month. However, before that the inspector requested the town engineer to examine the feasibility of erecting a second terrace of houses there.
(Cavan): Can we take it that since the 5th of this month, the application for revision was requested?
No.
(Cavan): It would appear to follow.
Mr. O'Leary
Is the Minister aware——
I cannot allow questions to continue all day.
(Cavan): One more question, if I may? May I finally ask the Minister to do everything possible——
That is not a question. Question No. 17.
Mr. O'Leary
Is the Minister aware that——
Question No. 17. I must ask the Minister to take notice of what I am saying.
I am sorry; I did not hear you, Sir.