asked the Minister for Local Government if, in view of the fact that actual expenditure on sanitary and miscellaneous services in each year of the Second Programme for Economic Expansion was less than target, and that the recent statement that the Federation of Builders, Contractors and Allied Employers in Ireland considers the present volume of serviced building land inadequate, he will take immediate steps to break this bottleneck to the solution of the housing crisis.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Serviced Building Land.
40.
In my opinion, the amount of serviced land available in the different areas has been generally sufficient to meet immediate current needs. In the Dublin area, however, where there was a danger that the shortage of serviced land might create major problems, I arranged that the local authorities concerned would undertake as a matter of urgency a programme for the provision of sufficient serviced land to ensure that house building would not be adversely affected.
In all areas, local authorities are reviewing, at my request and in association with my Department, all the water and sewerage schemes which they have in planning so as to establish those which are most urgently required for further housing and industrial development.
In the meantime I have recently authorised the start of schemes to a total value of over £3 million.
This is not a problem of any great magnitude in Donegal at the moment, while it is a problem in Dublin. Does the Minister not agree that in certain areas in Donegal where the county council are now finding it difficult to procure serviced sites, due to the fact that the Minister is not making money available to them, he should take the necessary steps to have the money made available so that serviced sites can be provided for people wishing to build their own homes?
Quite a reasonable amount of money is being made available for this purpose.
When is the Minister going to make it available?
I have already authorised the start of schemes to a total value of over £30 million.
Question No. 41.
Is the Minister pledging his word that he will now sanction the proposals by Donegal County Council when they make application for money for the provision of water and sewerage to service sites?
I have called Question No. 41.
I am not saying that the amount of money available for this purpose is unlimited, but I am saying that the economy of the country is now able to provide a reasonable amount for this essential purpose and that progress is being made every year in this regard.
Is the Minister now telling us that there will be no further delay?
Will Deputy Harte please resume his seat?