asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he would arrange for the making and exhibiting in a suitable place of a graph, showing the average time involved in the providing schemes of (a) houses, and (b) blocks of flats in Dublin, to a scale of, say, 1/8" high for one week's time elapsed, under the following heads:—(1) acquisition of site, (2) preparation of plans, (3) preparation of bills of quantities for tendering, (4) the period allowed for getting in prices and making out tenders, (5) consideration of tenders from time of receipt of same, (6) obtaining approval of the Department of Local Government and Public Health, (7) placing contracts after approval is received, (8) laying out of sites, including sewers, roads, etc., (9) any delays existing which do not come under any of the foregoing heads to complete the period elapsed from first consideration of a scheme, (10) actual construction of (a) houses and (b) blocks of flats.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Housing Schemes.
The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative. The particulars sought by the Deputy are being compiled in tabular form and will be forwarded to him when completed.
asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if all schemes for housing in the City of Dublin offered for tender have been tendered for and contracts placed.
I am informed that all the schemes for which tenders were recently sought by the Corporation have been tendered for and contracts therefor are being entered into.
asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state what proportion in the City of Dublin of the programme for housing contemplated for the last four years has been offered for tender, viz., for 1933, 1934, 1935 and 1936.
There was no specified number of houses to be provided yearly before 1934. In 1933-34 the number of dwellings erected was 847. For the three years 1934-35, 1935-36 and 1936-37 the number of dwellings to be provided was estimated at 1,859, 2,000 and 1,900 approximately. The full number of houses was completed in 1934-35 and 65 per cent. of the programme in 1935-36. The final figures are not available for 1936-37, but it is expected that the proportion will be about 78 per cent. of the estimated number of dwellings to be erected in that period.
Arising out of the reply, the question asks if all the houses contemplated were tendered for and placed—that is, that none were contemplated or put out for tender that were not taken up.
asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that in recent invitations to tender for (a) houses, and (b) blocks of flats, a period for completion has been stipulated for by the Dublin Corporation inviting the tenders, and if he will state if this course is the only proper and satisfactory way of dealing with the matter.
The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, the stipulation regarding a time limit for the completion of contracts follows a long established practice in this country, and I see no reason at present to suggest another method.
asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he can state what is the programme for housing of the Dublin Corporation in 1937-8 for houses and flats which is now ready to be put in hands on sites approved and available, and how many of each of the following trades, viz.:—carpenters, bricklayers, plasterers, plumbers, slaters and tilers, and labourers, does he anticipate will be required to complete them in the time required.
The present position is that sites are available for about 2,000 dwellings. When these are placed under contract it is estimated there will be employed thereon 150 bricklayers, 300 carpenters, 200 plasterers, 65 plumbers, 20 slaters and tilers, and 1,100 labourers.