asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether his attention has been called to the insanitary condition of a large proportion of dwelling houses in the village of Hacketstown, County Carlow; whether any report in respect to these houses has been made by the county medical officer of health, and, if so, whether the local authority has taken any steps to condemn and demolish such houses as are unfit for human habitation and whether his Department will take steps to secure that suitable dwellings will be provided promptly for the occupiers of such insanitary dwellings.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hacketstown Insanitary Dwellings.
In connection with the present housing programme all boards of health have been requested by me to make a detailed survey of the housing needs of small non-urban towns. The survey of the village of Hacketstown shows of the 105 dwellings in the village 29 have been reported on by the county medical officer of health as unfit for human habitation. Under the present housing scheme of the Carlow Board of Health provision is made for the erection of ten cottages on a site adjoining the village. On the letting of these cottages preference will be given to persons living in the unfit houses and the unfit houses vacated by the selected tenants will be demolished. State loans are available for the housing schemes of boards of health and 60 per cent. of the annual loan charges is payable by the State. This substantial State-aid leaves no excuse to local authorities for failure to provide the necessary housing accommodation and I intend to ensure that progress in house building will be continued until all needs are satisfied.