asked the Minister for the Environment the number of people on the corporation housing list at present and the number of houses under construction (a) in Dublin city and (b) in Dublin county.
30.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Housing.
29.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he foresees any improvement in the housing situation in the Dublin area, and if he is aware of the increasing number of applicants awaiting accommodation.
I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 29 and 30 together.
The latest figures made available to my Department by Dublin Corporation show that the total number of approved and unprocessed applications for housing accommodation by that local authority fell by 740, from 8,035 at 1 November 1978 to 7,295 at 1 May 1979. While the number of houses completed by the corporation in 1978, and to date in 1979, is somewhat disappointing due to causes outside the control of the corporation their programme generally is satisfactory. The number of dwellings completed to 31 October is slightly higher this year at 1,077 compared to 1,064 at 31 October 1978; 2,229 houses were under construction by the corporation at 31 October 1979 compared with 2,071 at the same date last year. There was a substantial increase in the number of men employed on the corporation's programme from 1,559 at 31 October 1978 to 1,854 at 31 October 1979.
The total number of dwellings becoming available for letting by Dublin Corporation through new construction casual vacancies in existing houses was 2,811 in 1978 compared with 3,061 in 1977, 2,670 in 1976 and 2,603 in 1975.
I am satisfied that the corporation are getting as much capital for local authority housing construction as they can use this year. Last year they did not spend the full amount of their authorisation. The amount of capital made available to the corporation this year and in 1978 represented about one-third of all the available capital resources for the local authority housing construction programme, although their approved housing needs were only about one-quarter of the national total of approved needs.
There has been an improvement in recent years in the local authority housing situation in Dublin county and in Dún Laoghaire Borough. I understand from the county council that the number of approved applications on their housing list at 30 September 1979 was 1,271 of which 392 were families of four or more persons; 319 newly-weds had also applied for rehousing.
At 30 September 1978 the county council had 1,304 approved applications on their housing list of which 436 were families of four or more persons. In addition there were 365 applications from newly-weds.
Between 1 January 1979 and 31 October 1979, the council completed 483 dwellings compared with 291 in the same period last year. They had 1,294 dwellings under construction or at tender stage at 31 October 1979 compared with a corresponding figure of 1,204 at 31 October 1978.
The total number of applicants on Dún Laoghaire Corporation's approved waiting list was 356 at 30 September 1979 compared with 307 at 30 September 1978. The corporation completed 121 dwellings this year in the period up to 31 October compared with 162 in the same period last year. At 31 October 1979 they had 175 dwellings at tender stage with another 175 at the planning stage and had sites available for 520 dwellings.
I want to ask the Minister one question on his lengthy statistical reply——
The time for questions is now up and I would ask the Deputy to be very brief.
In view of the Minister's admission that the performance in terms of construction output of the corporation has been disappointing—indeed it is so to all sides of the House—would he agree that, first, this is because of labour shortages in the private construction industry? Would he therefore recognise that there is a growing need for a direct labour construction unit within a local authority to ensure that it meets the construction programme that he as Minister sets? Finally, in view of the Government's commitment to increase employment in the economy generally, would he consider in conjunction with Dublin Corporation the possibility of setting up a direct labour construction unit to meet the targets which he considers have not been achieved?
There are reasons for the disappointment. Two of these are lack of interest by contractors and a labour shortage which prevailed until recent months and which now seems to be easing a lot. In regard to the other part of the Deputy's question, I have no plans concerning the introduction of direct labour.
Am I to take it that those who are unfortunate enough to be on the housing waiting list must ride out the tide in accordance with the demand and supply of labour in the private construction sector? Is that what the Minister is saying, that because there is now a slackening of demand on the construction side there is no necessity to build houses by a direct labour unit?
No. I said that the problem in regard to skilled labour which prevailed for most of this year has eased considerably in recent months and the trend would seem to be in that direction. From now on it should be possible, if the trend is correct, that the corporation would at least be able to spend the amount of money made available to them each year by allocation from my Department.
And if not——An Ceann Comhairle: The remaining Questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.