asked the Minister for Local Government if, in view of the fact that the British Government have succeeded in erecting 440,000 houses since 1945, he will take steps to obtain the fullest information as to the methods used in the tackling of the housing problem in Britain with a view to ascertaining how far similar methods can be applied to Ireland, so that the urgent need for 100,000 houses may be met with the maximum speed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - House-Building Methods.
Mr. Murphy
According to a housing return dated 31st May last 440,235 new dwellings have been provided in England, Scotland and Wales since the end of the war. This number includes not only houses provided by public authorities, but also houses erected by private builders and housing associations. About 150,000 of the total were temporary houses, mainly of the two-bedroom type. I am satisfied that in order to accelerate house production here it will be necessary to supplement traditional methods of house construction by new methods. As I have already informed the Deputy, the possibility of prefabrication as a means of meeting some part of the housing deficiency is at present under investigation by the housing director for the Dublin area, in consultation with the Housing Consultative Council. I am keeping in touch with developments in Britain and our representative on the Housing Sub-Committee of the Economic Commission for Europe, set up by the United Nations, keeps me informed of developments abroad.