asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state whether he has addressed a letter to the West Cork Board of Health indicating that a number of houses are required in some of the non-municipal towns in West Cork for persons at present residing in unhealthy dwelling-houses, and if he will state the places and the number of houses so required, and if he will state the particular section or sections of the Housing Act, 1932/34 under which it is proposed to give financial State assistance towards the provision of these houses.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral—Answers. - Housing in West Cork.
The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. According to a recent survey made by the county medical officer of health and the engineer to the West Cork Board of Health as to the housing requirements of non-municipal towns in the county health area with a population of not less than 250 it was ascertained that 178 houses distributed as follows were required:—
|
Bantry |
48 |
Ballydehob |
20 |
|
Dunmanway |
42 |
Roscarberry |
27 |
|
Drimoleague |
13 |
Ballineer |
3 |
|
Castletownbere |
6 |
Timoleague |
6 |
|
Schull |
8 |
Courtmacsherry |
5 |
|
Total |
178 |
Of this number, 105 houses are required to replace unfit houses. Most of the occupants of these houses come within the definition of the term "agricultural labourer" and par. (b) of sub-section (1) of Section 6 of the Housing (Financial and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1932, enables me to make a contribution not exceeding 60 per cent. of the annual loan charges incurred by a local authority in respect of money borrowed by them for the provision under the Labourers Acts, 1883 to 1931, of cottages or other housing accommodation for agricultural labourers.