asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware of the serious housing crisis in the Dún Laoghaire area; and the action, if any, he intends taking in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dún Laoghaire Housing.
24.
I am aware that there is an urgent need for more local authority housing in Dún Laoghaire Borough mainly as a result of the unsatisfactory housing situation which obtained in March, 1973.
The Minister has a great sense of humour.
That was four years ago.
I can go back ten years and the situation will improve, from my point of view.
People are enjoying that joke.
At least I am achieving results, which is more than Deputies on that side of the House would have been able to do. At that stage, no local authority houses were under construction in the borough, only 154 were in planning, and the total of all additional sites available to the corporation was stated to be 300. Of this total, 120 sites were later used by the corporation as local authority housing sites, the others would not suit.
As the Deputy is aware, the development of an adequate housing programme takes time, particularly the acquisition of land. I am happy, however, that the unsatisfactory situation has now been rectified, with 383 local authority houses under construction, with work on a further 175 houses expected to be commenced shortly, 85 houses at tender stage, plans being prepared for 317 houses, and a further reserve of about 660 housing sites already acquired.
The corporation have therefore a current construction programme totalling 960 houses—apart from reserve sites—a figure well above the total requirements of families presently approved by them for rehousing.
This is further evidence of Coalition mythology. I am sure the Minister is aware that the preparation of plans was well in hand when he took over responsibility for housing. Can the Minister tell the House why only 57 houses have been completed in the last four years? Is he aware that there are more than 600 families in urgent need of immediate housing in the area? Can the Minister hold out any hope for the rehousing of these 600 applicant families? When I speak of "applicant families" I am referring to about 3,500 people who are in urgent need of rehousing.
I am glad Deputy Andrews has given me the opportunity of again putting on record the disastrous way the previous Government treated Dún Laoghaire. Deputy Andrews said that the planning had been proceeded with, but I should like to tell him that there were no local authority houses under construction and only 154 were in planning when I took over. The idea that a lot of houses were being planned is wrong. All those statistics showed 300 sites available in March, 1973, and as has since transpired only 120 local authority houses could be put on the available area. I have already stated that 64 of these have been built and 56 are nearing completion. Deputy Andrews only looked at one figure before he put down the question, but if he had gone to the trouble of checking locally what the score was I do not think he would have bothered putting down the question. There are 383 local authority houses under construction in Dún Laoghaire and work on a further 175 houses is expected to commence early in the year and 85 are at tender stage. Plans are being prepared for 317 more houses and work should start on them some time next year. A further reserve of about 660 housing sites are being acquired. Under these circumstances for Deputy Andrews, or anybody else, to suggest that the people in Dún Laoghaire were being housed by Fianna Fáil and are not being housed because of a change to a National Coalition Government is a lot of tommy-rot. But for the fact that there was a change of Government God knows what would have happened to the unfortunate people of Dún Laoghaire who were looking for houses, because Fianna Fáil had no interest in them.
Did the Minister ever hear of Sallynoggin and, if so, would he give an indication of how many housing units are there?
If the Deputy puts down a question relating to that I will talk to him.
If the figure suited the Minister he would have it on tap but, obviously, he never heard of Sallynoggin.
If the Deputy puts down a question I will deal with each county and corporation, because this is the story of housing in Ireland.
Can the Minister answer the simple question I put to him?
Will I write the question for the Deputy?
Arising out of what the Minister said in relation to the housing situation in Dún Laoghaire in 1973 it is important to remind him that almost since the foundation of Dún Laoghaire Corporation the Coalition have dominated it. The Minister is wrong in relation to the figures he has given. The number of people approaching local representatives in relation to local authority houses is getting out of hand. I ask the Minister to agree that effectively only 56 houses were built in that area in the last four years and these houses have not yet come to hand. In those circumstances I am sure the Minister will agree that his record has been disastrous.
I do not go into local politics at that level, and I was not aware that Dún Laoghaire Corporation was dominated by the Coalition. If that is the reason they did not get money Deputy Andrews would know more about it than I. When I took over in March, 1973, no houses were under construction in Dún Laoghaire.
That is not true.
I am giving facts, and if they are incorrect I will have to do as I did with some of the Deputy's colleagues, repeat them outside the House and see what Deputy Andrews will do about them. When I took over only 154 houses were in planning and 300 sites available. On 15th December, 1976, 383 local authority houses were under construction; 175 houses about to start; 85 houses at tender stage and plans being prepared for 317 and a further 660 sites available. Applications received for rehousing number 705—87 old persons and 618 others. Of these approximately 670 have been approved for rehousing, 87 plus 583. The corporation are at present carrying out a general survey of their housing applicants and expect that as many as 100 may be found to be no longer in need of housing, and this will reduce the need to under 600 houses. In spite of that we have a situation where before the end of 1977 we will have more houses built in Dún Laoghaire than were built in the previous 20 years. In spite of that Deputy Andrews has said that Dún Laoghaire is not getting enough. This is the story of Fianna Fáil; they are always complaining that enough has not been given but when the figures are issued they find they are talking through their hats.
Who was responsible for the Ballybrack housing complex? When did negotiations being for the purchase of the development land for the Loughlinstown complex?
Ballybrack was before my time and Loughlinstown housing started long after we took over.
That is an outrageous untruth.
Representations were made to me personally to find out if anything was being done by Fianna Fáil about the other sites. I am asking the Deputy what about last year's snow? The Deputy is talking about 600 people who are now looking for rehousing.
They are in serious need of rehousing.
In 1977 not only will those people be in houses but they will be in good houses. The Deputy can go back to Ballybrack now if he likes.
Is the Minister saying that in 1977 the housing crisis in Dublin will be solved?
I am saying that in 1977 most of the people who need rehousing in Dún Laoghaire will be looked after and that in 1978 all of them will be in new houses. And a happy Christmas to the Deputy.
Because this is the last sitting day before the Christmas recess, in accordance with practice the remaining questions will be given written answers and Deputies will find the replies in the Official Report.
I should prefer Questions No. 27, 28 and 30 to be replied to orally.