asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware that over 3,000 dwellings in the Dublin city area are without bathrooms, that there are 2,419 with outside toilets only and that there are 707 dwellings which have no separate toilets at all; and the proposals he has in respect of this major sanitary and hygiene deficiency.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Housing Sanitary Facilities.
5.
I am not so aware. It is difficult to reconcile the figures referred to by the Deputy with data available from the census and other official sources.
Regarding improvement works to dwellings, I announced in December last a scheme of greatly increased grants which is designed to encourage the provision of improvement works, including the sanitary facilities in question.
Is it not a little surprising that the figures given by the Dublin City Manager have not apparently found a place in the Minister's files? Is that oversight indicative of an attitude which does not seem to point at getting rid of this major sanitary and hygiene deficiency if the Minister is not even aware of the figures, which are the City Manager's figures?
For the Deputy's information, Dublin Corporation are unable to trace the sources for those figures which the Deputy has submitted. Dublin Corporation have not got the figures.
Obviously there is confusion here, because those figures were provided to me in a written reply to a question to the City Manager, so they are Corporation figures. I will forward a copy of those figures to the Minister. Does the Minister appreciate that the grant schemes which he mentioned, and which are obviously very welcome, do not apply to probably 95 per cent of the dwellings here because they are rented accommodation and a condition of the grant is that the house has to be in fairly good condition? By definition those houses are excluded.
A house can be brought up to good condition by way of the improvement grants.
This is rented accommodation and it would be unrealistic to ask a tenant to build on a bathroom. There are a tremendous number of dwellings and people involved in this matter.
Surely the landlord concerned can make the application and carry out the work?
The landlords are not prepared to do it and the tenants are suffering. It is not a 100 per cent grant.
I am calling the next question.
Subject to a maximum of £600; it is not 100 per cent.
It is a substantial shortfall, which means that people are living in these conditions with no bathrooms.
There is no basis for the Deputy's figures. Even Dublin Corporation are unable to trace the source of them.
Question No. 6.
I know the Minister is not implying that I am telling a lie. I will forward the figures to him and I ask him to accept the integrity of them.
I have called Question No. 6.
(Cavan-Monaghan): If these figures are genuine they disclose an alarming situation in Dublin city with 3,000 buildings without any toilets at all and a huge number without inside toilets. Would the Minister accept that?
There is no basis for the figures. Does the Deputy say the figures are correct?
(Cavan-Monaghan): I am asking on the basis that they are correct.
(Interruptions.)
Order.
Despite what Deputy Keating says, Dublin Corporation cannot substantiate the figure.
On a point of order, is it in order for a Minister to accept the word of an outside body as distinct from that of a Member of this House on the basis of integrity?
The Chair has no control over the answers the Minister gives here. I am calling Question No. 6.
If I produce the figures would it be in order for me to table a question in order to allow the Minister to answer? Is that a reasonable request?
If the Deputy wishes to put down a question I will answer it.
The matter will be resolved in the ordinary way.
That is not good enough. Would it be allowable to put it down for tomorrow's Adjournment?
Yes.
It is not a question for me to dismiss.
The Minister is evading the issue.
I am not evading it. Dublin Corporation cannot substantiate the figures.
(Interruptions.)
Order, please.