asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state (i) the number of houses erected or proposed to be erected this year in the towns of Tullamore, Birr, Portlaoighise and Edenderry; (ii) the cost per house in each area; (iii) the actual or estimated cost for clearance and development of sites; (iv) the rates of wages paid to builders' labourers in each area; (v) the economic rent based on the tendered price in each area, and (vi) whether any proposal was submitted in any of the above cases by the county manager to erect any of the houses by the direct labour system.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Leix-Offaly Housing Schemes.
As the reply contains a number of statistical tables, I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to have it circulated in the Official Report.
The following are the particulars:
(i) Thirty-six houses have been completed in Tullamore in the present year and 46 more are in course of erection. The number of houses in course of erection in the other towns are as follows: Birr, 20 houses; Portlaoighise, 52 houses; Edenderry, 60 houses. I cannot at present indicate how many of these houses will be completed by the end of the year.
(ii) The all-in cost per house including cost of land, development, building, etc., in each area is estimated as follows: Tullamore, £1,042; Birr, £1,600; Portlaoighise, £1,760; Edenderry, £1,800.
(iii) The estimated cost of clearance and development of the sites is as follows: Tullamore, £5,039; Edenderry, £12,676 10s. 0d.
Similar particulars for Birr and Portlaoighise are being obtained and will be forwarded to the Deputy.
(iv) I understand that the rates of wages for builders' labourers obtaining in three of these towns are as follows:—Tullamore and Edenderry, 1/10½d. per hour for a 48-hour week; Portlaoighise, 1/11½d. per hour for a 48-hour week. I am not aware of a standard rate of wages for Birr. The rate paid on the Birr scheme is being ascertained and will be notified to the Deputy.
(v) The full economic rent of the houses to cover all outgoings including estimated maintenance and administration expenses would be as follows:— Tullamore, 18/- per week exclusive of rates; Birr, £1 6s. 2d. per week exclusive of rates; Portlaoighise, £1 8s. 4d. per week exclusive of rates; Edenderry, £1 8s. 10d. per week exclusive of rates.
(vi) No proposals to carry out any of these schemes by direct labour were submitted to my Department.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state the number of houses now being erected by the local authority in (a) Laoighis, and (b) Offaly.
The figures are Laoighis County Council, 144; Offaly County Council, 99.