asked the Minister for the Environment if he will make funds available to Dublin Corporation to acquire and replace with local authority houses Nos. 2-6 Ballybough Road, Dublin 3, which are derelict, a public hazard and an eyesore; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Acquisition of Derelict Houses.
20.
In relation to the funding of sites for local authority housing schemes from Central Funds, I wish to refer the Deputy to the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 49 of 23 June 1988.
There are no proposals before my Department at present concerning a local authority housing development at Nos. 2-6 Ballybough Road, Dublin 3.
Is the Minister aware that the corporation are proceeding with a CPO in respect of the houses in question with a view to erecting local authority housing on the site? They are proceeding with the CPO simply because they failed to obtain funds and have no funds to acquire the properties at present. In fact they could acquire the properties by agreement at a far cheaper price than they will eventually have to pay for them. Is the Minister aware of this? These are very large houses along one of the main roads in the city centre. They are situated only about four doors away from where I live, even though that is not terribly relevant.
Let us have brevity, please.
Not only are they a major eyesore but they also constitute a major hazard for very elderly people and children living in adjoining properties.
This is becoming a very long question, Deputy.
Would the Minister consider this request?
I want to be as helpful as I can. There is no proposal concerning a local authority housing development at Nos. 2 to 6 Ballybough Road before my Department at present.
There is a proposal to proceed with a CPO.
As they do not own the property they cannot put a proposal before the Minister concerning a housing scheme but they are proceeding with the CPO and this could take up to five or six years to process.
Let them get on with it then.
There must be something left from the Gregory deal.
I suggest that they should get on with it and finalise the acquisition. The Deputy is aware that the financing of site acquisitions with central funds does not arise until the tender has been approved by the Department. What I am saying is that they should get on with it and present the proposal. I cannot give a favourable response until the local authority to which the Deputy refers have got their act together in the first instance.
Question No. 21.
May I ask the Minister a question?
A brief question.
I will try to be as brief as possible. Can the Minister tell us if the local authority put in an application — and I can assure him that within the next week they will put in an application — to his Department relating to this problem, would he give it favourable consideration? There is no point saying we must proceed with the CPO as this process can take up to five years to complete by which time those buildings——
I did ask for brevity.
This is a major problem and the corporation sympathise——
Let us have finality in this question.
Would the Minister consider an approach from the corporation?
I announced the details in respect of the road grant allocations today and it is my intention to move as quickly as possible. I want to clear all of the allocations within the next week or two.
It will not take very long as the Minister does not have much money to give out.
I am doing the best I can with the little I have. I would have to say that at £194 million it was not all that little.
Question No. 21.
Would the Minister consider it?
I would consider anything from the Deputy.
Will the Minister look at the problem?
I will consider it.
We will fly the Minister down there and he can fly over it.