asked the Minister for Local Government the estimated number of houses at present needed (a) in Dublin city, (b) in Cork city, and (c) in the remainder of the country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing Requirements.
7.
According to the statutory assessments of housing needs submitted by the housing authorities under section 53 of the Housing Act, 1966, there is at present an accumulated need for 8,518 local authority dwellings in Dublin city and for 1,375 local authority and private dwellings in Cork city. An estimate of the present need for private dwellings in Dublin city is not available.
Assessments of need have not yet been submitted by a number of housing authorities. Figures for the rest of the country are, therefore, not yet available.
Can the Minister say approximately when they will be available?
I do not know. The housing authorities were required to submit these assessments by 30th September last. There are 14 authorities that have not submitted them yet but they should be available in the near future.
Are they being urged to submit them?
They are being urged to submit them, yes.
Might I ask the Minister, in that context, has regard been had, when these assessments were made in respect of the housing requirements of Dublin city and Cork city, to the number of houses in both cities which are notoriously at present unfit for human habitation but which have not been examined or condemned by the appropriate municipal authority for the past five or six years?
Regard has been had to the fact that there is a number of houses that should be demolished but I would not say that a comprehensive assessment of this category has been made.
Apart from those that are standing and that are in need of demolition because they are dangerous, has the Minister adverted to the fact that there are large numbers of houses in Dublin and Cork which have been condemned as unfit for human habitation? Have these been taken into account in making this assessment?
These have been taken into consideration to a certain extent but standards in these matters will change according as more houses are provided. For some time to come there will always be houses which will gradually become substandard.
Were any guide lines laid down for the local authority in making this assessment? Was the assessment made merely on the number of applications for houses?
The applications were investigated on the basis of the people who are in need of houses.
Can the Minister say whether the decision as to whether a house is fit or unfit for human habitation was based on the demand for accommodation or is it, as it should, based on the condition of the dwelling?
The dwelling and its suitability for sanitary use.