asked the Minister for Local Government the circumstances under which homeless persons are at present housed by Dublin Corporation.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing of Homeless Persons.
6.
Homeless persons are provided with housing accommodation by Dublin Corporation on varying conditions according to the categories into which they fall.
It is the responsibility of the health authority to provide shelter for persons who are unable to provide it for themselves, and premises are maintained by them for this purpose. Applications to the corporation from such persons for rehousing are dealt with on the basis of the housing conditions of these persons immediately before they entered the shelter provided by the health authority. Families in such shelters who were in a category equivalent to five persons in one room are being offered rehousing by the corporation at present.
Families evicted from existing accommodation in the city through no fault of their own are considered as a priority class on the basis of their family sizes. In such cases, families equivalent to the four persons in one room category are being offered housing accommodation at present.
Homeless families coming into the city who are seeking housing accommodation are rehoused subject to certain conditions regarding residence.
Is the Minister aware that there are certain families without any accommodation whatever, and they are given no facilities by Dublin Corporation for rehousing?
I am not aware that there are any categories that are disqualified from rehousing. They are all considered for rehousing on the basis of these priorities.
Is the Minister aware that the department of the corporation charged with the duty of determining whether dwellings are unsuitable for human habitation is virtually inactive? Is he satisfied that houses which are today, in fact, unfit for human habitation, are being adequately inspected and so certified when circumstances require it?
I have no reason to believe that the corporation do not take account of whether or not a dwelling is fit for human habitation.
Is the Minister satisfied that the corporation are conducting the necessary inquiries where they have good ground for believing that houses are unfit for human habitation?
I am satisfied that each application for rehousing is considered on its merits.
I am not asking that.
I do not know what the Deputy is asking.
Is the Minister satisfied that the corporation are taking adequate precautions to ensure that houses which are unfit for human habitation are inspected and condemned as such, so that those living in them may be given the proper priority for rehousing?
That is normal corporation practice. I have no reason to believe it is not done.
Is the Minister aware that no dwelling was condemned as unfit for human habitation in Dublin for the past three and a half years, although before June, 1953, 600 houses a year were condemned?
For how long? All the complaints I heard have been in the opposite direction.
For three and a half years.
Is the Minister aware that there are cases where homeless people were given no alternative shelter by Dublin Corporation? The Minister says this is not the case. Will the Minister bring himself up to date with the facts?
I do not know whether it is or not.
(Interruptions.)
Sin ceist eile. I know more about housing than Deputy L'Estrange.