asked the Minister for Local Government if he will consider the desirability of recommending to local authorities that provision should be made in all new housing schemes for small families and newly-married couples.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing Schemes Provisions.
Mr. Murphy
A recommendation on the lines of that suggested by the Deputy was conveyed to each housing authority on the 18th October last.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state whether the Housing Consultative Council has made any plans for the housing of newly wedded couples; if he is aware that many young married people, because of lack of proper housing accommodation, are forced to live apart, and that the Emergency Housing Association has submitted plans to deal with this matter; whether these plans have been examined; whether he is prepared to give sanction to the adoption of these or similar plans; and finally whether he will declare the shortage of housing accommodation to be a national emergency and recommend to the Government the establishment of a Department to deal solely with this problem.
Mr. Murphy
The provision of specially designed houses for newly-married persons is having the close attention of the Department, in consultation with the housing authorities concerned. Regulations for the preparation of schemes of special houses or flats have been drafted and circulated to Dublin Corporation and certain other housing authorities for comments and suggestions. They are also being examined by the Housing Consultative Council.
I am aware of the effects of acute housing shortage on newly-married couples in common with other sections of the community, and I have asked the housing authorities to consider including suitable houses or flats for newlyweds in their schemes. No plans to deal with this matter have been submitted by the Emergency Housing Association to the Department, or, I understand, to the Dublin Corporation or the Housing Consultative Council. I shall be pleased to examine any such plans if they are submitted.
With regard to the last part of the question, I think I can safely say that every public-spirited citizen must be aware of the urgency of the housing problem. To declare the problem a "national emergency" would not necessarily heighten the public's sense of the gravity of the issues involved or provide a more effective or expeditious solution of the problem. I do not propose to recommend to the Government the establishment of a separate Department for housing.
Will the Minister see that whatever is hampering the erection of houses will be removed?
Mr. Murphy
I can assure the Deputy that as far as the Minister and the officials of the Department are concerned the matter is getting daily consideration.
Could the Minister give the House any information as to the personnel and constitution of the Emergency Housing Association referred to in the question?
Mr. Murphy
That surely is not my duty.
You might direct the attention of the Minister for Justice to it.