andMr. Donegan asked the Minister for the Environment the present position regarding the improvement works to 216 houses at St. Finian Park, Drogheda, County Louth, submitted by Drogheda Corporation on 8 February 1978.
Written Answers. - Drogheda Housing Improvement Works.
91.
The proposals submitted by Drogheda Corporation to my Department on the 8 February 1978 outlined the maintenance, remedial and improvement works which the authority had carried out or proposed to carry out to the houses in St. Finian Park. However, as indicated in my reply to parliamentary questions No. 220 of the 9 May 1978 and No. 14 of the 16 May 1979, arbitration proceedings between the corporation and the contractors are still pending and, therefore, the amount of the funds that can be made available by me for remedial works on the houses arising under the contract cannot be determined until the proceedings are completed. In the meantime and, under existing arrangements, the corporation may finance the cost of normal maintenance of the houses from rental income and from a percentage of the proceeds of the sales of their houses.
The corporation are at present finalising an experimental programme of work on defective panelling in a number of houses in the estate with a view to determining a satisfactory method of replacement of these panels and the probable cost. The experimental work is being carried out with the agreement of my Department and is envisaged as the first phase of a longer term programme of such remedial works. When the experimental programme is completed further discussion between officers of the corporation and of my Department will be held to examine the technical and financial implications of the experimental work. No final decision however can be taken in the matter pending the completion of arbitration proceedings between Drogheda Corporation and the contractor.