asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state whether any additional houses to the 29 indicated in his reply to a question on 23rd May last, have been erected in the Rathdown area, how many applications have been received for houses in that area since February, 1948; whether his Department has taken any steps to deal with the housing problem in the Rathdown area, and when or if a solution of the problem may be expected.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rathdown Housing.
I am informed by the Dublin County Council that none of the houses being erected in pursuance of the council's programme for the year commencing 1st April last, have yet been brought to completion stage. Work is in progress, however, on 180 cottages in the area, while a tender for a further 28 houses has been accepted. Plans are being prepared for a further 160 houses on sites acquired by the council and a compulsory purchase Order for sites to accommodate 51 cottages has also been made, giving a total of 419 cottages in course of erection or being planned. In addition, the council are examining the possibility of acquiring sites in Glencullen, Rathmichael and Ballybrack.
I am also informed that approximately 600 applications for cottages have been received by the council. Twenty-nine of the applicants have been accommodated in the houses completed up to the 31st March last, leaving 570 approximately to be considered. These applications have not all been fully examined as to eligibility for rehousing and the figure cannot, therefore, be accepted or regarded as a correct index of the housing needs. Those needs were recently estimated by the council to be 477 houses, i.e., not many more than the number of houses being erected or planned.
With regard to the remaining parts of the Deputy's question I consider that the progress revealed by the figures I have given affords ample proof of the energetic steps which are being taken to meet the housing needs of the Rathdown area in a speedy and comprehensive manner.
Did the Minister say that 600 applications have been received?
Six hundred, yes.