asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if his attention has been drawn to the statement made by the Medical Officer of Health for Dublin at the meeting of the Incorporated Orthopædic Hospital of Ireland, when he stated that, notwithstanding all the houses that had been built in and around Dublin, there were more insanitary rooms and dwellings to-day than ever in the history of Dublin, and that there were kitchens occupied to-day that had been closed in past years; and if the Minister can state what steps he proposes to take to attempt to combat the growing of this evil.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing Conditions in Dublin.
I understand the Medical Officer of Health recently made an unofficial public statement to the effect indicated in the first part of the question with the object of bringing before the public the need for a sustained continuous effort in the provision of further houses. The solution of the housing problem has received considerable State support since 1922 by the operation of the various housing subsidies, and in the case of Dublin County Borough a sum of £874,300 has been allocated as grants for the provision by the Commissioners of 3,853 houses, and a sum of £135,400 has been earmarked as grants for the provision of 1,703 houses by private persons and Public Utility Societies. The current proposals of the Commissioners in Dublin include the provision of a further 1,400 houses, for which sanction has been given to the raising of a loan of £600,000.
Could the Minister state whether in the allocation of the proposed new houses which are to be built consideration will be given to people who are at present situated as the question suggests.
I do not quite understand the Deputy.
Is it the people who are living in single-room tenements who will be given consideration when the new houses are being allotted, or are these houses to be built and sold to people at prices ranging from £300 to £400, or set at uneconomic rents?
The policy of the City Commissioners has been to take the families with the largest number of young children, and in so far as they can pay the rents necessary to be paid for these houses, to house the greatest possible number of such families who are in the greatest need for houses.
Is it not a fact that the people who are in real need of houses are not in a position to pay rent?
That is a different question.
Would the Minister state whether he has hopes in the near future of being able to do something for those who cannot pay the rent asked for, who are in very bad circumstances, and to whom the Medical Officer of Health referred —unofficially, according to the Minister, but, in my view, officially?
The Deputy really asks what the Government proposes to do to provide houses for persons who cannot pay for them.
To provide living accommodation for people who cannot pay the rents demanded for houses that are at present being built.
I think that that is a separate question and, if the Deputy puts it down, we will see what he means.