asked the Minister for Local Government whether any figure is available of the number of couples on the corporation's approved waiting list seeking accommodation in Dublin; whether there is any information available of the number of people outside the approved waiting list seeking accommodation; and if he will give the basis of compilation for the number on the approved waiting list.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Corporation House Waiting List.
31.
The most recent comprehensive revision of Dublin Corporation's waiting list for rehousing, which was undertaken in December, 1968, indicates that there were then 231 families of two persons on the list.
There are no particulars in my Department as to the number of people seeking accommodation outside the corporation's approved waiting list.
The approved waiting list, as compiled by the corporation, had regard to the following factors:— inadequacy and unsuitability of accommodation, health grounds, overcrowding, dangerous and unfit dwellings, etc.
Would the Minister agree that the time has come to get an accurate idea of the real housing need in Dublin and that one should adopt more exact criteria of this need than simply to wait for someone to apply for housing accommodation? Would the Minister agree that at present 44 per cent of corporation housed families share accommodation with relations: that this is a vast increase on, say, 1966, when 23 per cent of corporation tenants shared accommodation with relatives? Would the Minister revise the housing list in order to understand the real need in Dublin?
It was revised only a couple of years ago. It is reasonably accurate.
Would the Minister agree that we must discover the real facts of the situation? The Minister made a speech recently in which he attacked agitators. Would he revise the method?
I do not think the Deputy's method of taking figures out of the air would be accepted by anybody.
They are not taken out of the air: they are taken out of reports. We should depart from the unreal manner of compiling housing needs in Dublin as at present.
This is a real manner and an accurate manner.