asked the Minister for the Environment if he will conduct a public inquiry into the state of houses constructed by the National Building Agency in the South Finglas area of Dublin.
17.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Finglas South (Dublin) Houses.
16.
asked the Minister for the Environment in relation to the recent difficulties concerning the construction of houses in Finglas South. Dublin, built by Dublin Corporation, why the particular problem occurred; and if he will indicate the technical and structural reasons why a movement of roof trusses, and a separation of barge boards from the gable walls took place in a number of the houses.
30.
asked the Minister for the Environment the action he proposes to take with regard to the recent structural defects which have been found in the NBA built houses in Finglas South, Dublin.
I propose with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Question Nos. 16, 17 and 30 together. In the course of routine maintenance by Dublin Corporation it was discovered that there had been movement of roofing trusses and roof barges in some houses in section 2 of their South Finglas housing estate. The affected roofs were investigated immediately by the appropriate structural experts and advisers of the corporation and the National Building Agency, assisted by experts of the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards. The National Building Agency subsequently reported to me that immediate precautionary action had been taken to eliminate any hazard arising from the movement of the trusses and barges, that the various experts and advisers had established the nature and extent of the problem in the affected roofs, that the experts had agreed a permanent solution in the case of the three affected house blocks which would not involve detenanting of the houses and should not cause undue disturbance for the tenants. Arrangements have been made by the agency with the scheme contractors for the carrying out of this work.
I expect to receive a full report within the next few weeks from the agency on the finding of the technical experts and on their detailed evaluation of the probable causes of the movement of the roof trusses and barges, following their inspection of all the houses in this section of the Finglas estate.
When the detailed findings of the technical experts have been submitted to me, I will have them evaluated by my own technical advisers. In the meantime I do not intend to conduct a public inquiry into the matter.
Is the Minister at present in a position to say what is the reason for the defect that occurred? Does he know why it happened at this stage?
Movement of roof trusses.
What caused that?
These particular trusses were up to the required standard. We had no specific standard at that time but they were up to the prevailing British standard. Until I have a full report I cannot say what caused the movement of the trusses.
Is the Minister in a position to tell me whether what is called stress-graded timber was used in these trusses or whether the trusses were properly fixed?
I am awaiting a full report.
Can the Minister tell me—because apparently we will not make any progress along the lines I was pursuing—if, in view of the fact that these houses were built under what is called a low-cost housing scheme, it is reasonable to believe it would be worth carrying out a survey of other houses, not merely in this estate but in others built around that time under the prevailing economic conditions as applied to housebuilding at the time in order to ensure that this type of deficiency—because deficiency it is in some way or other—is not more rampant than we might believe? Would the Minister carry out an investigation of other houses built under the low-cost scheme?
I do not think it is necessary to do that. There are the two areas I know of, this one and one in Cork where we discovered deficiencies or faults in particular houses after they were completed. But the NBA are responsible for more than 20,000 houses built in this country and we do not have complaints about them. I agree this was an unfortunate happening but I am awaiting a full report on why the trusses moved.
Would the Minister state if the information that he has shows that the movement of the trusses is due not to a design fault but to a construction omission and that the cost of putting right that construction will not fall on the taxpayer? Might I ask the Minister, in addition, if he would consider favourably the reduction of the purchase price of the houses to those tenants who wish to purchase under the tenant purchase scheme?
At present I am not in a position to state on whom the cost will fall. I must await a full report and the question of liability is another matter.
Is it in order that the Minister is being asked to anticipate a report he has not yet received?
The Minister has not finished answering that question.
Deputy Keating is asking a lot of stupid questions. The Deputy knows quite well the Minister cannot give a reply properly until he has a report.
It must be hurting the Deputy.
Order, please. Has the Minister finished?
Yes.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Is it not obvious that the shifting of these trusses was due either to defective construction or workmanship, that these houses were passed for and on behalf of the corporation and the Minister, that somebody's eye has been wiped, that the whole thing stinks and calls for a public inquiry so that it may be ventilated and blame may be apportioned where it properly lies?
When I receive a full report I will decide whether or not there should be a public inquiry but, until such time as I do, I am not prepared to discuss the matter.
So far the Minister has answered by saying that he has not yet received a full report and I can appreciate why his replies have been along the lines given. But, in view of the fact that there are people living in these houses, that very genuine fear has been aroused amongst all of the tenants I spoke to, would the Minister consider giving top priority to getting this report available as quickly as possible? Secondly, will the Minister give an undertaking to the House that it will not be an internal, private report but will be made available to all Deputies of the House so that we can then decide whether or not a public inquiry is necessary?
When I get the report referred to I will decide whether or not a public inquiry is necessary.
Deputy Cluskey.
On that basis how can we make serious representations if we do not have access to the report?
Deputies' representations will be——
How can we make representations——
The Deputy should wait until I get the report.
I asked the Minister if he would make the report available when he got it. He did not indicate in his reply whether or not he would. We are supposed to be responsible Opposition Deputies. How can we honestly carry out that duty if we do not have access to factual information? Will the Minister give the House an undertaking that the report will be available to all Deputies?
I will have no hesitation in making the report available once I receive it. I am as anxious as the Deputy to find the reason for the faults in the houses.
It does not show.
The Minister stated in an earlier reply that the NBA were responsible for building in excess of 20,000 houses. Could the Minister tell us how many of that number were in the category of low-cost housing?
No, I do not have that information with me at present.
Would the Minister not consider it extremely advisable to have inspection of those houses that fell into that category carried out immediately in order to ensure that this does not recur with possibly far more serious consequences to the occupants?
If it is necessary to have an inspection of those low-cost houses carried out certainly I will do it, but at present there is no reason or evidence to warrant it being done. I will certainly look into the matter of having the type of house to which the Deputy has referred examined.
As most Deputies have referred to the fact, correctly, that it is either a major design or construction defect, has the Minister taken any steps to inform the NBA that they should see that some action is taken to prevent this kind of thing happening in any scheme they may be carrying through at present? Secondly, has the Minister given any instructions to the body examining this matter—in view of the major nature of the defect —that they should deal with this as a matter of great urgency?
This matter is being dealt with as a matter of great urgency. I have had discussions with the NBA in regard to this matter and the possibility of other such faults occuring.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Might I ask the Minister who is carrying out the inspection on which the report to the Minister will be based?
The inspection is being carried out by Dublin Corporation. The NBA and the IIRS people are also involved.
Might I ask the Minister——
We have had sufficient questions; we have had 11 supplementary questions.
The Chair has been rather gracious on this but the incident that occurred has cast a pall over those houses and their value. Would the Minister consider compensating the tenant-purchasers who seek to re-sell and who cannot get a market value for them?
That is a separate question.
I am awaiting a full report on the matter and a decision such as that would also have to await the report.
(Interruptions.)