asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state whether the county manager for Offaly has been repeatedly requested, during the past 18 months, to arrange for the carrying out of certain repairs and improvements in connection with a housing scheme at Clara; whether any report has been submitted to his Department in connection with the matter, and, if not, if he will order an inspection or inquiry by the Department, with a view to ascertaining the reasons why the county council and their contractor have failed to provide suitable and healthy housing accommodation for the 144 tenants concerned.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Clara Housing Scheme.
As regards the first part of the question, the reply is in the negative. Since receiving the Deputy's question I called for a report from the local authority on the statements made therein. I have just received the report to-day and, pending full consideration of it, I am not prepared to intervene in the matter.
In a serious case of this kind, will the Minister consider the advisability of requesting one of his medical and engineering inspectors to visit the scheme and to report on the conditions under which these people are living?
Pending consideration of the report which I have received to-day, I am not prepared to add anything to the answer I have already given.
Would it be possible for the Minister to disclose the identity of the person from whom he has received the report?
No. I will deal with the question when it arises again.
With your permission, a Chinn Comhairle, and in order to give the Minister an opportunity of dealing with this matter, seeing that he will not give the information for which I asked, I will raise this matter on the Adjournment.
I have now got notice of two questions.