asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state on how many occasions during the past year the housing officers of his Department changed the floor space for non-municipal houses to be built in the North Cork Public Health area, the different dimensions given on each change, and the number of square feet allowed before the first change and the number of square feet allowed by the last change.
- North Cork Housing.
Any revisions of plans for housing schemes which are suggested by my Department to local authorities are based on well defined lines of policy approved by me as Minister. This policy aims at securing the maximum economy consistent with adequate and necessary standards of accommodation and amenity.
Four house plans for three-bedroomed houses in non-municipal schemes in North Cork have been approved. These plans as originally submitted had floor areas of 920 sq. ft., 838 sq. ft., 774 sq. ft., 784 sq. ft. The first two plans were considered wasteful of floor area and revisions to secure more economical use of floor space were suggested. One of the plans as revised was still considered unsuitable and further amendment was necessary. The floor areas of the plans as finally approved are 784 sq. ft., 760 sq. ft., 774 sq. ft., and 753 sq. ft. Revisions suggested solely to secure reductions in floor space were made once in the case of the first two plans. The revisions to the other two plans discussed by my Department's inspector with the local authority's technical officers were suggested with a view to securing better internal arrangement of the proposed houses.
In addition to the four standard plans referred to plans for four-bedroomed houses were also submitted, which were considered unsuitable and the preparation of revised plans for such houses is being undertaken by the local authority.
A plan for a small two-roomed house for aged couples and newly weds has also been submitted and has been discussed with the council's technical officers. Floor area of that plan is 446 sq. ft., and a more suitable arrangement of the rooms to avoid wastage of space has been suggested.