asked the Minister for Local Government if he has considered the question of introducing proposals for legislation to enable the acquisition of building supplies by local authorities to be expedited.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Authorities' Building Supplies.
I would refer the Deputy to Section 41 of the Housing (Amendment) Act, 1948, which enables the Minister to grant exemptions to housing authorities from all or any of the requirements of Section 201 of the Public Health (Ireland) Act, 1878. The effect of an exemption is to facilitate the purchase by housing authorities of plant and materials required for building and development works, by eliminating the delays involved in compliance with the requirements of the section in question.
Applications for exemptions have been made by a number of local authorities and in all cases have been granted.
The general question of securing expeditious and economical supplies of building materials within the provisions of the Local Authorities (Combined Purchasing) Act, 1925, or otherwise, is also under review in the Department.