asked the Minister for Local Government if his Department have yet considered the tenders submitted to the Waterford County Council for the erection of rural workers' houses; and if he will state what decision has been taken in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rural Workers' Houses in Waterford.
The Waterford County Council invited tenders for the building of 420 cottages in groups throughout the county. Only 17 tenders covering 21 groups and comprising 105 cottages were received by the council. The prices quoted in the tenders ranged from £627 to £824 per house. The council was informed that no objection would be raised to the acceptance of the tender for a group of seven cottages for which a price of £627 per house had been quoted and the Department is in correspondence with the local authority in regard to the remaining 98 cottages.
As a result of further advertisements inviting tenders for 315 cottages four further tenders for four groups (comprising 23 cottages) with prices ranging from £673 to £918 were received. The tender prices are regarded as generally excessive and the Department is in correspondence with the county council in the matter.