asked the Minister for the Environment the proposals, if any, to reverse the trend in the Dublin city area where the growing number of applicants for dwellings within the city boundary is in direct contrast to the dwindling number of dwellings becoming available; and if the Government remain committed to the ideal of a living city and to fulfilling the implications of this in respect of fostering and supporting community and residential development within the city.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin City Dwelling Applicants.
14.
I would draw the attention of the Deputy to the announcement by the Taoiseach last October regarding the setting-up by the Government of an inter-Departmental committee of senior officials of relevant Departments to consider the problems of Dublin's Inner City area.
The committee are at present engaged in an urgent examination of the environmental, social and economic problems of the area, with a view to an early recommendation on policy decisions and other measures to be taken. I understand that the committee hope to submit their report to the Minister for Economic Planning and Development shortly.
I do not think that will be any great consolation to my constituents who are on the housing list. Has the Minister any statistics on the number of houses likely to become available within the Dublin city boundary by comparison with the number of people needing houses within the city boundary?
The Deputy has a later question on which I can give him the information.
Apparently the Minister has not the information available. Is he aware that at present within the city boundary area there are 695 dwellings under construction or at site development stage and that the existing list of people who want to be housed within the city boundary is about 4,500? How does he argue that the efforts so far being made will do anything to meet the needs of the people in that area who wish to live in it? Is he aware that the total land bank of Dublin City Council is about 88 acres, or accommodation for 2,000 houses and that if houses were built on the existing available land only half those needing houses in the city area could get them?
The total approved applications in 1978 was 7,000 and that included 710 tenants of substandard corporation dwellings in the central city area which had not been included previously.
Does the Minister accept as correct the figures I have given him?
I have given the total number for 1978.
One final question——
The Deputy is not asking questions. He is creating argument.
I do not wish to do that. If the Minister had been more co-operative——
I have answered the Deputy's question.
Does the Minister accept that there is need for a commitment to this living city through rehousing people who were born and raised in the city and who are entitled to live in the city? Does he accept that all available evidence indicates that there is a massive exodus out of the city to environments that are often hostile, and what will he do about it?
The straight answer is to give an increased allocation for housing to Dublin Corporation, which I did last year and in 1977. I expect to be able to improve on the 1978 figure this year.
There has not been any real improvement.
The Minister referred to a review committee set up by the Taoiseach. How many review bodies are involved in this work?
That is a separate question.
If the Deputy puts down a question I will answer it.