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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 24 Jul 1975

Vol. 284 No. 3

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - House Grants.

29.

asked the Minister for Local Government the number of new house grants at present outstanding in respect of houses built by a firm (name supplied); and if he will furnish details of any defects that are holding up the issue of certificates of completion of work.

It is not possible to give the information sought by the Deputy, since no application for a grant has been received from the firm itself and the ordinary applicant for a grant is not required to identify the builder.

Is the Minister aware of the large number of complaints regarding this firm and the trouble that inspectors have found regarding grant applications?

Yes, I am aware of complaints and what I would consider to be very serious complaints in regard to this firm. One of them involved the leaving of a house which was commenced in one year, unroofed over the winter with serious damage to the house. It certainly did not show that the builders were very anxious to look after the interests of the people for whom they were building the house. The fact that the applications are not being made by this builder but by the people who are buying the houses is making it pretty difficult but there are three cases that I know of where it appears that the purchasers are being treated with less than they are entitled to.

Does the Minister not think there is a need to protect the home buyer against a firm like Trad-Built of Cork city?

The Deputy ought not to mention names. There is a convention whereby personalities or names of firms outside this House are not mentioned.

I have had nine complaints from people who have invested £6,000 over a 35 year period of their lives in this firm and who have been let down by them. The roof was taken off one house and put on another to comply with a court order in one case. The Minister and his Department should look into the possibility of, perhaps, licensing or protecting people against this type of firm.

We are attempting to get a guarantee, for new houses, of a limited number of years which would possibly meet this requirement. If the complaints which are being received are correct, it appears that there is a very serious matter which I suggest should be inquired into by the people who have purchased the houses. I would imagine they should take action themselves because it appears from the information which has been given to me by individuals such as Deputy Davern that it is less than fair.

Is the Minister aware that this is operating on a lump system?

That is the information I have.

And that they have ignored courts throughout the whole country?

I am not aware of that.

They are operating a lump system, they are totally unsatisfactory and 95 per cent of the contract price is paid before roof tile level.

I got a report that 90 per cent of the contract price was paid and the external walls were only built up six feet or something like that. If that is so, it is a pretty serious matter. I have not got as much evidence as Deputy Davern but if he would like to supply the evidence it might be possible to do something more about it.

I have some information myself. I realise the difficulty the Department might have but are there no means available to the Department to ensure that people are not exploited by firms of this kind, firms of straw, against whom court action or any other action of that kind would be of no benefit?

I have been looking through the legislation and it does not appear as if there is any legislation by which the Department of Local Government can take action. It appears as if an injunction could be taken to prevent the firm from building any houses and this might possibly bring the matter to a head. I want to make it clear that a lot of the information I have got is hearsay from people who claim to know a lot about it, both inside and outside this House. If the information is correct, I think the firm are doing a bad job.

The case to which the Minister referred is one within my own knowledge and which I brought to the attention of his Department.

Does the Minister think it would be practicable to license firms?

I do not think that is the answer. I believe something must be done but as of now the action must be taken by the individuals who have been fleeced or appear to have been fleeced by this firm.

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