asked the Taoiseach if he will appoint a Minister for Housing.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Minister for Housing.
1.
Housing is, at present, among the responsibilities of the Minister for Local Government. I do not propose to assign housing to a Minister as his single responsibility.
Would the Taoiseach not think that greater priority should be given to housing in view of the fact that there is a considerable shortage in urban areas?
The performance, especially over the past five years, could not have been bettered even if there were a special Minister for Housing. The estimated housing output in 1972-73 is 17,500, which is almost three times as much as it was ten years ago. At present the total capital output on housing is about £105 million of which the public capital programme provides £45 million. That is over twice as much as was provided five years ago.
Would the Taoiseach not agree that the emphasis is on private housing rather than public authority housing?
They are running reasonably well in parallel.
I do not think so. If the Taoiseach looks at the figures I think he will find that they are not.
(Cavan): Surely the Taoiseach must realise that the amount of work which the Minister for Local Government is expected to do is far too much for one Minister. As an alternative, would the Taoiseach consider removing some of the duties from that Department which should never have been there, with special reference to planning appeals? If that were done it would relieve some of the congestion.
I agree entirely with Deputy Fitzpatrick. The Bill is now in course of preparation and will be produced very shortly. May I say, for the Deputy's information, that the Government approved in full of its terms within the past two weeks?
(Cavan): I hope it will come before us because the Taoiseach has been telling me that for the past two years.
I am giving the Deputy hot information.
The Taoiseach mentioned a figure of 17,500 houses which are expected to be built. Could he tell us what the waiting list is in the country, even on the local authorities side of it?
The Deputy should know that that is a very specific question of which I would require notice.
Would the Taoiseach agree that in Dublin alone it is in the region of 10,000?
I would not agree because this 10,000 has been bandied about by housing action committees for the past five years and in many cases it has been found to have no foundation.
Would the Taoiseach not agree that the figure is in the region of 10,000?
That is a separate question.
I do not know.
The Taoiseach knows that it is not 10,000 apparently.