asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware that appalling housing conditions exist in the village of Bansha and that this state of affairs has arisen owing to the failure of the local authority to erect any houses to meet the needs of the village; whether he will state why the local authority have not erected any houses to relieve the situation, and whether, in the circumstances, he will have an immediate inspection made of these deplorable conditions with a view to remedial action being taken at once.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bansha Housing Conditions.
I am aware that the county council have estimated that 20 new houses are needed in the village of Bansha. The council included two sites in the village in the Compulsory Purchase Order of 1947 but the larger of the sites had to be excluded from the confirming Order owing to legal difficulties. Another site was acquired under that Order but the erection of the four cottages now proposed for the site cannot be proceeded with pending the demolition of a condemned house standing on the plot and the rehousing of the existing tenant. A further site for four houses has been acquired by agreement by the council and I understand that plans for a scheme thereon will be submitted for approval within a week or so, and that work will commence at an early date. I understand also that the council are negotiating for the purchase of two further sites to accommodate 12 houses bringing the total number to be erected to 20.
Will the Minister say if he is aware that not one house has been erected in this village for the past 100 years, and will he now force the local authority to do something practical to help to solve the housing problem there?
I am aware of the very troublesome position obtaining in that district where there were some sites for which the council was negotiating. There were some sites taken by the county council which were eventually remitted, portion of them against my advice. I hope that the council are now moving in the direction of getting the necessary houses mentioned for Bansha.