asked the Minister for Local Government whether Dublin Corporation are now in a position to publish an up-to-date waiting list of housing applicants as a result of the recent examination of housing lists.
17.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Corporation Housing List.
16.
Mr. O'Leary
asked the Minister for Local Government the number and size of families on the Dublin Corporation current waiting list; the number of houses and flats that are in the process of planning; and the prospects of the various sized families being housed in the space of weeks, months or years.
I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 16 and 17 together.
I understand from Dublin Corporation that their detailed review of the approved waiting list has not yet been completed. I am not in a position, therefore, to furnish up-to-date information as to the number and size of families awaiting rehousing nor can I say when the Corporation will be able to offer accommodation to any particular category of applicant. I understand, however, that, on the basis of present trends, the Corporation should be in a position to offer accommodation to most, if not all, of the families on their existing approved waiting list within the next few years.
At the 31st October last the Corporation had on hands, apart from the Ballymun scheme of 3,021 dwellings, schemes for 5,631 dwellings at various stages of planning of which 995 were in progress or at tender.
Mr. O'Leary
Is the Minister seriously saying at this stage that there are families of four and five in one room who will wait, as he says, a few years? Would he be more specific about what he means by "a few years"?
I did not say that families of four and five in one room would await a few years. I said that the Corporation should be in a position to offer accommodation to most, if not all, of the families on their existing approved waiting list within the next few years.
Mr. O'Leary
Can the Minister say when the information uncovered in the present review the Corporation is carrying out will be available?
I do not know. Perhaps Deputy O'Leary might get in touch with some member of the Corporation.
Mr. O'Leary
Surely in the Minister's own inquiries about it, he inquired whether, in fact, they would publish the result of the review?
My reply to that is that this review has not yet been completed.
The Minister mentioned in his reply the Ballymun scheme. Is the Minister aware that only 111 houses have been handed over of the anticipated 3,000, and that the last hand over was, in fact, last August, despite the very good weather we have had?
There is a question on the Order Paper about Ballymun.