asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware of the urgent need for new housing at Clonmel, County Tipperary; and if he will state the up-to-date position in regard to the proposed housing scheme at Cashel Road, Clonmel.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Provision of Houses.
26.
According to the statutory assessment of housing needs submitted by Clonmel Corporation under section 53 of the Housing Act, 1966, the estimated net need for local authority dwellings in the four-year period ending in March, 1971, is 141. To meet this need, 37 houses have already been provided by the Corporation. Detailed proposals for a further scheme of 118 houses at Cashel Road were approved by me on the 4th instant, and contract documents are now being prepared by the Corporation with a view to the early invitation of tenders.
May I take it that this matter now lies with the local authority?
The local authority are preparing the contract documents.
All aspects of the matter have now been dealt with in the Minister's Department?
That is right.
27.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware of the serious housing shortage in many towns in County Mayo; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this situation.
I understand from Mayo County Council that a scheme of six houses has been completed in Crossmolina to cater for the existing housing needs of the town; that sites are being acquired by them for schemes of ten houses in Belmullet and Claremorris to meet the present estimated housing needs; that they are not aware of any sizeable housing needs in other non-municipal towns in the county area; and that they are concentrating all their available resources in the first instance on meeting emergency and other urgent housing needs in the rural areas of the county.
As regards the urban areas in the county, in Ballina the National Building Agency Ltd. have recently completed a scheme of 12 houses for the Urban District Council and I have recently authorised the Council to get them to build a further 22 houses. In Castlebar a scheme of 24 houses has been undertaken by the Agency for the Urban District Council and is nearing completion. The Council have already acquired two sites, comprising approximately 40 acres, for local authority houses and private sites. In Westport, the Agency have been authorised by me to provide 48 houses on behalf of the Urban District Council and plans for the scheme are well advanced. The Council also intend to develop land for 60 private housing sites.
For my part, I have been consistently pressing Mayo County Council to make better progress in solving their housing problem and will continue to do so. Special periodic visits have been made locally by officers of my Department and close liaison has been established with officers of the Council, in order that we may co-operate fully in their effort to expand housing output.
Arising out of that reply and despite the lengthy reply of the Minister for Local Government, surely he must be aware that in many towns like Foxford, Swinford, Castlebar and Killala there is still an urgent need for workmen's houses? What steps does the Minister propose to take to see that these houses are erected and provided for these people? Many are young people who would like to get married but they have no houses to go to and they are unable from their own resources to provide these houses themselves.
The County Council say they are not aware of any sizeable housing needs in towns other than those I have mentioned.
Who carried out this survey?
Mayo County Council.
28.
asked the Minister for Local Government the present position regarding the provision of houses in the St. Margaret's area, County Dublin.
I understand from Dublin County Council that they have not yet succeeded in acquiring a site for a housing scheme in the St. Margaret's area; that efforts to secure a site at Coldwinters have had to be abandoned because it is not possible to provide the necessary drainage; and that urgent efforts are now being made by them to acquire a suitable site at Skephubble.
29.
asked the Minister for Local Government the present position regarding the rehousing of the people in Collinstown Lane, Collinstown, County Dublin.
There has been no change in the position as set out in my reply to the Deputy's Question No. 23 of 18th June, 1968.
Arising out of that reply, I think on that occasion I asked the Minister to try and expedite the matter. We have made various representations to the county council to improve the position of the people in Collinstown Lane. Their answer is that these people are going to be rehoused, but the county council refused them a water supply. Surely a decision could be made shortly whether they are going to be left there or put out?
I am awaiting the submission of the proposal to the Department from the Council. The Council intend to provide a scheme at Santry Avenue for these families in Collinstown Lane but apparently they are not in a position to submit a scheme to the Department as yet.
30.
asked the Minister for Local Government the present position regarding the proposal to erect eight houses at Rathmore, County Kerry, which was sent for approval last December.
A draft layout plan for this scheme was received in my Department last July and my approval to it issued in September. I understand from Kerry County Council that detailed documents for the scheme are being prepared by them at present.
31.
asked the Minister for Local Government the date on which sanction was sought for the acceptance of the tender for the erection of houses at Ballyshannon, Carbury, County Kildare; and when he proposes to give such sanction.
A proposal to accept a tender for this scheme was submitted to my Department on the 18th September last. The tender price was considered to be high in relation to the general level of current tender prices in the area and the proposal was the subject of local discussions between officers of my Department and the council. I now expect to give my approval to the proposal in the course of the next few days.