asked the Minister for the Environment if he will give an estimate of the number of tenants and occupants in the 25,000-35,000 controlled dwellings with a breakdown on a county by county basis of the number of such dwellings and the number of tenants and occupants.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Controlled Dwellings.
16.
As I indicated in my reply to Question No. 127 on 3 February 1981, there is no specific information available on the existing number of tenants of controlled dwellings. Neither is there specific information available on the existing number of occupants or the distribution of dwellings throughout the country. Accordingly, I am not in a position to add further to my reply on 3 February last.
I am still standing. Why were these letters not answered?
I have given the Deputy a fair hearing——
I did not get a fair hearing. I am not accepting the Minister's answer on behalf of thousands of people who have applied for grants and did not get a reply from the Department.
The trouble in this case is that the Minister will not answer questions he is asked, while he gives information which is not asked for. That could be one of the reasons we are having this trouble. If the Minister's figures of 25,000 to 35,000 controlled dwellings given in this House are correct — and a number of people are unable to retain their tenancies in privately-owned dwellings because of that — will this not throw a very big strain on the local authorities? Would the Minister like to offer an opinion as to what will be done, or has any provision been made to try to cater for this very large number of people who, in addition to the crowd already on the lists, will be looking for rehousing?
I am waiting for an answer to Question No. 15 and I did not get it. I am entitled to an answer.
I have given the answer.
The Minister did not answer the question on the Order Paper. I am entitled to an answer.
Question No. 17.
I want an answer to my supplementary question.
If Deputy Tully puts down a specific question, I will give him the reply. I have given an answer to the question on the Order Paper.
Will the Minister answer my question? I am standing here and I will disrupt this House until I get a reply.
I do not have a breakdown for each county.
Has any money been made available?
No, not that I am aware of. If the Deputy puts down a specific question, I will give him a reply.
This is only the tip of the iceberg. There are thousands of people writing to the Department who do not get any reply. I want an answer to my question.
Question No. 17.