asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state whether the Housing Consultative Council has taken any steps to supply the urgent housing needs of the inhabitants of Newtownpark, Stillorgan, Windy Arbour, Shankill, Stepaside and Dean's Grange; whether any inquiries have been made regarding the appalling sanitary conditions existing in these localities; and, if so, whether he will indicate the result of these inquiries; furthermore, whether he will consider the advisability of co-opting on the Housing Consultative Council a Parliamentary representative from each of the two County Dublin constituencies.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Dublin Housing.
Mr. Murphy
The Dublin County Council has surveyed the position in the areas referred to by the Deputy and the housing requirements are estimated as follows:—
Stillorgan area, including Newtownpark and Dean's Grange—226 dwellings.
Dundrum area, including Windy Arbour and Stepaside—130 dwellings.
Shankill area—79 dwellings.
The needs of the Dundrum area, including Windy Arbour and Stepaside, will be fully met by a scheme of 134 houses, for which the site has been acquired and plans approved. The development of the site will be commenced in the immediate future.
The more urgent needs of Shankill are being provided for in a scheme of 26 houses, six of which are being put in hands immediately, together with the site development work required for the remainder. Further sites are being sought in this area.
As regards the Stillorgan area, negotiations for the acquisition of the necessary building sites are well advanced.
The Dublin Housing Consultative Council is keeping the County Dublin housing programme under constant review. I do not propose at present to increase the size of the consultative council. While I am anxious that it would be as representative as possible, the Deputy will appreciate my desire to keep the membership sufficiently limited to enable quick decisions to be taken on the urgent matters of practical housing policy which the council was established to consider.
I do not want to embarrass the Minister, but I should like to ask whether any inquiries have been made regarding the appalling sanitary conditions existing in these localities.
Mr. Murphy
May I suggest to the Deputy that my reply in that connection has been fairly comprehensive? I indicated the steps that have been taken for the construction of houses. I indicated the preliminary work which has been undertaken with a view to that end being secured, and I can assure the Deputy that these districts with other districts will get very full attention in that and every other aspect of housing.