Vol. 234 No. 7
asked the Minister for Local Government (a) the number of persons on Dublin Corporation's approved housing waiting list at the most recent date, (b) the number of dwellings under construction, (c) the number of dwellings for which tenders have been received, (d) the number of dwellings at planning stages, and (e) the number of dwellings for which sites are available.
17.
asked the Minister for Local Government the number of persons at present on the Dublin Corporation housing list.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 17 together.
I understand from Dublin Corporation that the figures are: (a) 5,437; (b) 2,490, including Ballymun; (c) 508; (d) 4,761; (e) 7,000, excluding sites for about 2,370 dwellings in respect of which firm "package deal" offers have been made to the corporation. The corporation also say that they are in process of acquiring sites for a further 4,830 dwellings.
Will the Minister state whether he thinks the present programme is sufficient for the needs at the present time of Dublin city?
If Deputy O'Connell is capable of adding and subtracting he will see——
The arrogant young Minister.
——that arrangements are in train which will cater for present estimated needs within a reasonable time, taking into account something that it is essential to take into account, that is, the capacity of the country to provide both the finances and the physical arrangements to provide these houses.
What does the Minister think is a reasonable time?
A reasonable time is the time within which it is physically possible to do it and it cannot be done by throwing rats at members of the corporation.
By the consortium.
Question No. 18.
Technical people are necessary in order to build these things. It cannot be done by people masquerading under the cloak of religion to disseminate deliberate falsehood.
The consortium.
It is necessary to have technical people in order that these things can be built. They cannot be built without plans; they cannot be built without sites; they cannot be built without money.
