asked the Minister for Local Government if he will indicate when sewerage connections will be made to the 24 houses now completed at Little Island, County Cork, as the delay is depriving a number of families of housing.
62.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Cork Housing.
61.
asked the Minister for Local Government why details of sewerage arrangements are not available to a contractor who wishes to build 58 franchised houses on private sites provided by the local authority at Cobh, County Cork.
63.
asked the Minister for Local Government the reason for the delay in the finalisation of road and sewerage arrangements on the local authority site adioining private sites at Avoncore, Midleton, County Cork, where the delay is preventing the construction of 24 houses.
64.
asked the Minister for Local Government why services necessary for the construction of 30 houses at Knockaverry, Youghal, County Cork, are not being provided.
65.
asked the Minister for Local Government why details of road and sewerage arrangements necessary for the construction of 20 houses at Mitchelstown, County Cork, have not been made available to the builder concerned, thereby halting construction.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Question Nos. 61, 62, 63, 64 and 65 together.
Since I have given housing authorities full responsibility for the building of schemes of up to 60 houses, and for all private site developments, my Department gets no detailed information about the planning and execution of such schemes. I am not in a position, therefore, to give the information requested by the Deputy about these schemes.
Are there not 720 houses in new housing schemes at present held up in Cork?
The Deputy asked me for information which he had obviously got himself.
The information is very interesting. It is very seldom I interrupt anybody here. The Minister knows well there is a reason behind all this hold-up. There is an engineers' strike in Cork and the Cork County ratepayers are——
That would not arise on the question.
If Deputy Ahern wants a reply and if you, Sir, will allow it, I will give him the reasons which are not the ones he has given. If he knew more about what is happening in his own area, he would be aware that what he has just said is not correct.
Is it not correct to say that people cannot go into those houses because engineers will not certify them?
Will the Minister not admit that a scheme, whereby local authorities can go ahead with 50 houses without approval from him, was approved by the previous administration?
The previous Minister gave permission to go ahead with 24 houses and said that at a later date he would consider giving permission for 48. I gave permission for a minimum of 60.
50 houses.
No, 60. I am not going to argue with the Deputy.
Who is going to pay for the bridging loans of the unfortunate people in Cork?
The Government have no responsibility for the matter which Deputy Ahern is talking about. It is a matter between two unions affiliated to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions who are doing their best, despite efforts of people like Deputy Ahern, to settle the matter.
66.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that 48 local authority houses in Cork are complete and ready for occupation but cannot be occupied due to the county engineers' dispute; and the action it is proposed to take in the matter.
67.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that a total of 734 families are deprived of housing as a result of the Cork County engineer's dispute; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 67 together.
I have given housing authorities full responsibility for the planning and execution of all housing schemes of up to 60 houses and have made the necessary capital allocations to them for the financing of such schemes in the current financial year. No details are available in my Department of the number of local authority houses in Cork which may have been completed but are not tenanted. It is for the local authorities to take any necessary action in such matters.
Are the Government not going to do anything about the strike?
They are not responsible for the strike. As a trade unionist the Deputy must be aware that one does not interfere in a dispute between two unions.
A scheme worth £2.5 million is held up at Cork.