asked the Minister for Local Government what is the average cost of erection of an isolated labourer's cottage in (a) County Dublin, (b) County Kildare, (c) County Westmeath and (d) County Meath at the latest available date.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Labourers' Cottages.
44.
On the basis of tenders approved by me over the past 18 months, the average building costs of isolated rural cottages in Counties Dublin, Westmeath and Meath were £2,252, £1,818 and £1,863 respectively. No comparable figure is available for County Kildare as no tender proposals for isolated rural cottages were received from the council over this period of time.
45.
asked the Minister for Local Government why he refused to sanction tenders for two groups of isolated labourers' cottages recently submitted by Meath County Council.
Of the tender proposals submitted in respect of 56 isolated rural cottages, sanction to the acceptance of tenders for 50 cottages issued on 14th instant. In the case of the remaining six cottages, comprising two groups, the tender prices received were considered excessive, and it was agreed, in consultations between technical advisers of my Department and of the housing authority, that fresh tenders should be sought.
Does the Minister seriously suggest that by readvertising these two groups, which incidentally are on the Meath-Dublin border, he will now pay, six months later, a lower price than the £2,200 for a house which was the original tender price? In view of the fact, as stated to me now, that the average Dublin price is £2,252, will he not agree that he has made a mistake and will he try to rectify it before the price goes up to about £2,500?
No, the price was considered excessive, and I think it desirable to try to have these houses provided as economically as possible in view of the need to provide as many as possible.
In the event of the tender price being higher than the price which he has just turned down, will the Minister agree that the Department of Local Government will meet the full cost for his mistake?
That is a separate question.
It is not; it is a fair question. If the Minister makes a mistake, he should pay for it.
The price was considered excessive.
(Interruptions.)
46.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he is prepared to sanction applications for loans to erect labourers' cottages at the same time as he sanctions contracts for their erection.
It is normal practice to base the amount of loans for isolated rural cottages on actual tender prices as far as practicable in order to avoid the necessity for supplemental loans. As loans for rural cottages are invariably obtained from the Local Loans Fund the sanction of the Minister for Finance to their issue from the Fund is necessary. It is not practicable, therefore, as a general rule, to sanction loan proposals at the same time as tender proposals.
Would the Minister not consider that it would expedite matters very much if he would agree that when the applications for sanction for the tenders are sent to his Department, the Minister for Finance might at the same time consider applications for permission to borrow from the Local Loans Fund?
I have pointed out to the Deputy that would not be practicable.
Why not?
Due to the fact that these loans have to be obtained from the Local Loans Fund, it is necessary also to consult the Minister for Finance.
Would the Minister get a hearing aid? Did the Minister not hear me suggesting that he should agree that the loan application might at the same time be sent to the Minister for Finance so that both could be considered simultaneously? Or is it the desire of the Minister to defer consideration of one for three months and with a further three months, it would be easy to reach Deputy Harte's six months delay.
There is no question of six months delay.
The Minister has got the Meath application and he has not dealt with it.
(Interruptions.)
One group was sanctioned for permission to build last week. It did not take anything like that.
From February until now would be five months and the loan has not yet been sanctioned. For goodness sake, do not be trying to cod the House.
It did not take anything like five months. The maximum is three.
(Interruptions.)
Question No 47.