asked the Minister for Local Government the amount of money made available to Dublin Corporation for the purpose of adding to its land bank.
33.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing Land.
32.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he has any definite plans to make more serviced land available for housing purposes; and, if so, when these plans will be put into effect.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 33 together.
Deputies will be aware of the announcement last week of the appointment of Mr. James Molloy, Assistant City and County Manager, as Housing Co-ordinator for the Dublin area. Mr. Molloy, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned, will be urgently considering ways and means of making more serviced land available in the Dublin area to meet the backlog of housing demand in the city. I have informed the Dublin City and County Manager and Mr. Molloy of my view that provision must be made for new housing development in central city areas which have been traditionally residential in character.
Dublin Corporation's estimate of capital requirements for local authority housing in the current financial year includes a sum of £2 million for land acquisition purposes. Capital is being made available to the corporation as it is required.
In so far as the financing of land acquisition generally is concerned, local authorities have been encouraged to press ahead with their programme of forward land acquisition.
The Government have provided £12.95 million for sanitary services in the current year as compared with a provision of £8.23 million last year, an increase of nearly 60 per cent. This increase is enabling sanitary authorities to overcome the backlog in the provision of these services. Particular attention is being paid to the opening up of new land for development.
I asked the Minister if he would consider providing a land bank in the city centre such as exists in the suburbs.
As I stated in my reply, I have agreed to the appointment of the housing co-ordinator whose job it will be to ensure that sites such as those referred to by Deputy Moore will be made available in the central city area.
Will extra money be made available?
Extra money will be made available. He has been assured of this.
Can the Minister state if Mr. Molloy will be director of housing?
Yes.
Would the Minister ask him to look into the question of providing a proper information service for the public with regard to housing in the Dublin city area?
This can be done but it is a little early. Mr. Molloy has very important work to do with regard to staffing but, if necessary, this matter can be taken up with him at a later stage.
With regard to Question No. 32, can the Minister state the amount of money which has actually been made available already to the Dublin Corporation as distinct from the estimate for the year?
I do not think I have that information but if Deputy Colley wishes I shall let him have it.
I should be obliged if the Minister would do so.
Am I to understand that in relation to Dublin the Department of Local Government are providing extra funds for land acquisition? If that is the case, why did the Minister recently refuse a request by Cork County Council for a loan to purchase land for house development? What is the difference between Dublin and Cork?
That is a separate question.
My question asked specifically the amount of money made available to Dublin Corporation for the purpose of adding to the land bank. I assumed the Minister would avail of this opportunity to indicate how generous he has been in the actual provision of money. It is all right to promise it but what has been given is often a fair indication——
Dublin Corporation's estimate of capital requirements for local authority housing in the current financial year includes a sum of £2 million for land acquisition purposes.
That is not the question.
Capital is being made available to the corporation as they require it. If they require £2 million they will get it.
How much have they got? That was the question Deputy Tunney asked.
Deputy Tunney asked the amount of money made available to Dublin Corporation. I have said that up to £2 million is being made available if they need it.
I did not ask the amount being made available—I asked what had been made available. Earlier the Minister took issue with Deputy Lemass about not understanding schooling and education. My question referred to what has happened to date, not what will happen in the future. Will the Minister please tell us how much money he has made available to the Dublin Corporation already.
Is Deputy Tunney asking the amount of money spent?
Yes, and how much land they bought.
The only figure I have is the figure of £2 million which was made available to them and which they are drawing on at present.
Can those of us who are members of Dublin Corporation reprimand our officials for not having spent this money to date?
If they deserve to be reprimanded, that is the Deputy's job.
There is an urgent need for land for the building of houses.
With the permission of the Chair, I wish to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of Questions Nos. 20 and 21.
The Deputy will have to raise the matter next week because, as he will appreciate, it is now past the specified time to seek permission for an Adjournment debate.
It is a matter that will be worth speaking on regardless of what time such opportunity is afforded me.
The Deputy may raise it next week.