asked the Minister for Local Government whether it is intended to clear Hollyfield Buildings, Rathmines, Dublin of all tenants and to demolish the buildings; and, if so, if he will give details of plans for this site.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hollyfield Buildings, Dublin.
114.
Recently I approved proposals by Dublin Corporation to reconstruct two blocks of flats at Hollyfield Buildings, at present comprising 30 one-roomed flats, into 24 fully serviced two- and three-bedroomed flats, at an estimated cost of about £48,000. I understand that the corporation have experienced difficulties in implementing these proposals and are reviewing the position generally. I have not been notified of any decision on their part to demolish the buildings.
I am glad to say that there are few places left in Dublin to compare with Hollyfield Buildings. Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the block of flats at the end of the buildings has been cleared of tenants and that the windows have been boarded up? Can the Parliamentary Secretary tell us why do the Department of Local Government not ask the corporation to clear the place completely and rebuild a block of flats?
The corporation put up a proposal for renovation and reconstruction and the sum of £48,000 was sanctioned. If the corporation put forward proposals on the lines indicated by the Deputy we will consider them.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that a survey was carried out in Hollyfield Buildings and the findings indicated that many of the children were deprived? In view of this fact, would the Parliamentary Secretary state the reason for the delay in reconstructing the buildings?
There are certain difficulties. I am not sure what they are but I will make inquiries.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary communicate with the Minister for Health with a view to having some collective arrangements made in this case? There appears to be little doubt that the buildings are substandard.
I presume that when a proposal was sent to the Department of Local Government for a reconstruction job costing £48,000, that that proposal was vetted not only by engineers but by officials of the health authority.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary not surprised that work has not begun yet?
I am.
I think the Parliamentary Secretary will agree with me that the proposal to reconstruct part of the place that has been cleared and to provide there 24 modern flats is for the purpose of moving the tenants from other parts of the buildings to these flats and gradually to demolish the whole place? I hope that is the reason behind this.
These were 60 one-roomed flats and the proposal came to the Department to have these reconstructed into 30 flats.
There are no single-roomed flats in Hollyfield Buildings.
The scheme contains 60 one-roomed, 36 two-roomed and 24 three-roomed flats.
I take it, then, that the whole place is to be demolished. But it would cost more than £48,000 to do the reconstruction job.
The reconstruction refers only to the one-roomed flats.
I must repeat that there are no one-roomed flats at Hollyfield Buildings.
Could we have Question No. 115?