asked the Minister for Local Government if it is still his intention to refuse sanction for all local authority dwellings in excess of three storeys in height.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Authority Dwelling Heights.
81.
I have informed the Dublin housing authorities that, as general policy in future, I shall not approve of flat-blocks more than three storeys high. I have told them, however, that it is open to them to make a special submission to me in any case in which they consider that additional storeys are particularly desirable—for example, to maintain the character of existing streetscapes.
In one breath the Minister stated that he will refuse sanction for local authority houses in excess of three storeys and in the next he said he is prepared to consider in the future changing that if the local authority submit a case to him. In other words, one can assume that there is not any policy on his part in relation to the height of local authority dwellings.
I hate to have to suffer this type of reasoning on the part of Deputy Molloy. Exactly what I said is that I have indicated that I do not want blocks of flats higher than three storeys. I do not want to see people hauling children up four storeys like I saw women in Galway doing, and I have said to the local authorities that in the event of flats being built in an area where existing houses are more than three storeys high, if they make special submissions I will consider whether it would be desirable——
So there is no limit.
Would the Minister, therefore, consider setting up his own public relations department, because the Government Information Service, in their desire to make a wonderman out of him, are creating all sorts of false impressions in the newspapers which quite clearly are not true?
These are all separate questions.
I should hate to be considered a wonderman. I do an ordinary man's job——
I know you do.
If other people had done it before me we would not have so much trouble.
The Minister is paid to do a job.
Others were paid before me but they did not do it.
Which job is the Minister doing?