asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he has taken any steps to induce local authorities, and in particular the Dublin Corporation, to use Irish slates on housing schemes; and, if so, with what results.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Use of Irish Slates.
The outline specification issued for the guidance of local authorities erecting houses stipulates that the roofs shall be covered with first quality slates, preferably from approved quarries in Saorstát Eireann. Owing, however, to the substantial difference in the cost of Irish slates and artificial slates, and to the necessity for providing houses at the lowest possible cost, local authorities have not found it practicable so far to utilise Irish slates to any considerable extent. The only current schemes where Irish slates are being used are those of the Enniscorthy and Nenagh Urban District Councils.
When tenders were being invited for the current housing scheme at Donnycarney the Dublin County Borough Commissioners asked contractors to quote alternatively for roofing in Irish slates. The average extra cost for roofing in Irish slates was £8 per house. The Commissioners decided to use artificial slates.
Will the Minister state if he has investigated the reason why the use of Irish slates by the Glasgow Corporation is apparently economic, while the use of Irish slates by the Dublin Corporation is not considered economic?
Does the Minister think it advisable, in view of the number of houses being built by the various local authorities at the moment, to ask the trade section of his Department to get in touch with the Killaloe slate people with a view to having a general supply of slates for the country at, perhaps, a reduced rate? I think it would be an advisable policy.
As far as the use of Irish slates in Glasgow is concerned, I understand the reason is more or less technical in its nature. I understand they use smaller slates in the building of houses in Glasgow than the building community here are prepared to use. There is, at least, that difference. The practical point to be considered is the additional cost per house by reason of the use of Irish slates. The matter has been under review from time to time, but there has been no definite change in the situation because of the increased cost per house with the use of Irish slates. As regards keeping in touch with the Killaloe people, as far as I know the Minister for Industry and Commerce has been in touch with them, and he is prepared to give any assistance in coming to some kind of a decision when the prices of the Irish slates would be made smaller.
Is the Minister aware that the Portrane Asylum roofed its premises with foreign slates because it was cheaper to do so, and last year they had to strip the whole roof and re-roof the buildings with Irish slates at a greater cost? They did not save any money in the end.
Can the Minister say whether artificial slates are manufactured in Ireland?
No.
Will the Minister investigate the possibility of altering the type of house which the local authorities are encouraged to build with a view to the utilisation of Irish slates?
As regards any possible alteration in the type of house, any alteration that we have been suggesting up to the present has been an alteration that will enable a cheaper type of house to be built. That has resulted in a house being built on the flat which, in effect, increases the roof area and militates against the use of Irish slates. The houses that have been built around Dublin are houses of two storeys. If the houses were on the flat—that is, the cheaper type of houses—then the difference would be greater, so that according as we do our best to provide a cheap type of house the tendency up to the present has been to erect houses on which Irish slates could not be used, because your roofing area is greater. However, as there is an aspect of this that is more a matter for the Minister for Industry and Commerce, I am sure it will be taken up by him, and if he has anything further to add to what he is doing at the present moment I am sure he will acquaint the Deputy. I think that as far as the Local Government side of the thing is concerned at present, while doing everything possible for Irish manufacture, if we have as the chief aim the providing of cheap houses, the Department of Industry and Commerce can watch the other side of things and give us any help in the matter to secure that more Irish manufacture will be used, if it is possible to do it.
Surely it is not a question of cheapness considering that the tiles are actually sliding off the roofs at present of some of the houses built in Dublin during the last five or six years.
I have no information with regard to that. As far as the technical people dealing with the matter in Dublin and elsewhere are concerned, I am sure that they take into consideration the necessity of having a roof that will stay as a roof and what repairs may have to be done within a stated period of time in assessing the amount of money that ought to be spent on the roof in the first instance. If there is any serious state of affairs in any kind of general way, such as the Deputy mentioned, I should be glad to have some particulars of it.
I shall send the Minister some particulars.