Vol. 265 No. 4
asked the Minister for Local Government the total number of families on Dublin Corporation's housing list at the latest available date; what proportion of these will be housed within the present year; if he is yet in a position to give an estimate of the construction programme which will meet the housing needs of Dublin Corporation; and when it is expected that plans will be formulated to meet these needs.
11.
asked the Minister for Local Government the number of families with one child at present on Dublin Corporation's housing list.
12.
asked the Minister for Local Government when families of three will be eligible for housing in Dublin.
I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 10, 11 and 12 together.
I am informed by Dublin Corporation that the total number of families on their approved waiting list for re-housing, following the revision in November, 1972, was 4,805; that there were then 411 elderly persons or couples deemed by them to be in need of re-housing; and that it was estimated that 91 families would need to be re-housed because they would be displaced by statutory operations of the corporation. The total of these categories was 5,307. There were 1,694 three-person families included in this figure regarded as eligible for re-housing. I understand that the corporation re-housed 709 families, or approximately 13 per cent of the 5,307 cases, in the four months between the revision of the list and 31st March, 1973.
Dublin Corporation's current local authority programme comprises a total of 17,563 dwellings to be built or sites to be provided, including 2,031 dwelling schemes in progress, and 963 ready to be started or at tender stage. They indicated, some time ago, to my Department that they aimed to complete a total of about 4,400 new dwellings within the two-year period 1973-74 to 1974-75. With vacancies in the corporation's existing estate arising at about 1,100 per annum at present, the needs of the families at present on the approved list should be satisfied well within that period. I will, of course, be making every effort to get the corporation to increase this output in line with the Government's plans for the general expansion of the housing programme.
13.
asked the Minister for Local Government the number of flat and house units being built by Dublin Corporation; and the number of flats planned for the future in Dublin city centre areas such as City Quay, Westland Row, Ringsend and York Street.
At 31st March, 1973, Dublin Corporation's housing programme comprised a total of 17,563 dwellings to be built or sites to be developed, including 2,031 dwellings under construction, 4,904 dwellings at tender stage or various stages of planning, and 10,628 sites available or at acquisition stage. This programme included 266 flats under construction, 717 flats at various stages of planning, of which 190 are at tender stage, and a further 741 flats for which sites have been acquired or listed for acquisition. I am informed by the corporation that they are continuing the investigation of centre city sites to accommodate an on-going programme of approximately 200 flats per annum. Referencing is proceeding, for compulsory acquisition purposes, of a site in the City Quay area with a view to comprehensive development, including housing.
In the Westland Row district, the corporation have a scheme of 70 flats approaching completion at Fenian Street and have submitted for confirmation a compulsory purchase order for a site at Holles Street/Hogan Place, on which they propose to erect 60 flats. In this area also a tender for the erection of 20 old-persons' flats at Power's Court has recently been sanctioned by me. I understand from the corporation that they intend to take steps for the acquisition of a site at Ringsend for the erection of 96 houses and that plans are being prepared by them for a scheme of 42 flats at York Street.
When does the Minister think he will be in a position to confirm the CPO on the Holles Street area?
The CPO will be confirmed without any delay.
Can the Minister give us any information when the CPO may be through for the City Quay area development? Did the corporation give any indication to the Minister regarding this?
I am sorry the corporation have not given me any indication but if the Deputy puts down a question about it I will have a reply for him next week.
14.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that applicants on Dublin Corporation's housing list who are living in caravans and mobile homes cannot qualify for consideration for a new Dublin Corporation house because local government grants are not available to Dublin Corporation in respect of these applicants; by what authority this regulation is in force; and if he will ensure that this discriminatory clause is revoked.
I am not so aware. The subsidies payable under section 44 of the Housing Act, 1966, are available to Dublin Corporation in respect of the rehousing of applicants living in caravans and mobile homes. There is no regulation or discriminatory clause which precludes the payment of subsidy in these cases.
15.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware of the plight of married couples living in caravans in many cases on unserviced sites in the Clondalkin, County Dublin, area; and if he will state what plans Dublin County Council have to house these families.
I am so aware. I understand from Dublin County Council that they have recently rehoused 21 families from caravan sites in the Clondalkin area. Families remaining on the sites will be considered for rehousing, with others, when a further 200 houses, which are planned for the area are being let, in accordance with the council's approved schemes of letting priorities. Some applicants from the Clondalkin area have been offered rehousing by the council in the Lucan area where a scheme of 277 houses has recently been completed. Four dwellings have been provided for itinerants in Clondalkin. The council have also provided a fully serviced caravan site at Mayfield, Clondalkin, which accommodates 54 families. They intend to provide more similar sites as and when suitable land becomes available.
