asked the Minister for Defence whether tenants of houses at Powder Mills, Ballincollig, County Cork, the property of the Department of Defence, were ordered to vacate these houses and given a time limit to do so and, further, whether a communication from Cork County Council (South Cork health services) was received by his Department drawing attention to the present lack of housing accommodation in that district and requesting that these tenants be not disturbed; and, if so, with what result.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tenants in Department of Defence Houses.
I am aware that four of the tenants of houses at the Powder Mills, Ballincollig, County Cork, were notified on 24th August last that the condition of their houses was such as to render them unfit for human habitation and that they were not capable of being rendered so at reasonable expense and further, with a view to demolition of the houses, the tenancies would be terminated on 8th September.
A communication has been received from the Cork County Council requesting that the decision to terminate the tenancies be reconsidered and that the houses be made fit for habitation. Prior to the receipt of the communication referred to, the county council served notice (under sub-section (3) of Section 23 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1931) that three other houses at the Powder Mills were unfit for human habitation; were not capable at a reasonable expense of being rendered so fit and must be demolished. The three cottages have been vacated and action will be taken to have them demolished.
This property only came within the administration of my Department in June, 1949, and, having regard to the fact that the houses referred to are structurally in such a bad condition that, short of practically rebuilding them, no material improvement can be made, I am not disposed to spend any money on their repair. At the rents being paid for them, it would be a completely uneconomic proposition to attempt to repair them.
Will the Minister bear in mind the fact (a) that, while three of the houses may have been condemned, that did not apply to the cases with which we are concerned in this question; (b) that in the same area the South Cork Board of Health have placed upon them the responsibility of housing the wives and families of members of the Defence Forces or of persons connected with the Department of Defence; and (c) is the Minister aware that it was only when the tenants of these houses which have been condemned asked the Department of Defence for repairs that they were politely told that, so far from having their houses repaired, they would have to get out? Finally, is the Minister going to condone or is he willing to perpetuate the policy of landlords in this country who state: "Get out of the house because I refuse to repair it having regard to the present rent?" Will the Minister stand over such policy or does he wish to increase the rents of the tenants of these houses? Are we supposed to house the wives and children of men serving in his Department?
Did the Deputy see those houses himself?
Yes.
Well, I happened to see them also. I had a look through them and I would not take the responsibility for permitting any group of individuals, families or otherwise, to continue to live in these buildings. I want to point out to the Deputy that there was a special report given by the engineers on the buildings. Their report was to the effect that repairs would not make these houses structurally safe, that the roofs were falling in, the ceilings were coming down and the floors were in a state of collapse. Surely the Deputy will not suggest that it would be a right and proper thing to keep families in houses that are in that condition. I want further to point out to the Deputy that these reports were made on 10/10/1950. I did not write these reports. The reports were given on the basis of the condition of the houses. Three of the houses were condemned, before this report was given at all, by the Cork County Council itself, but the houses which were left, other than the three which were condemned were, in my opinion, in an equally bad state of repair.
Will the Minister say if it is correct to say, first, that a circular was issued by the Cork County Council, known as Circular No. 5, asking the responsible authority to repair the houses, if necessary? Secondly, has the Minister or the officials who have reported to his Department, seen the number of houses in the Ballincollig area that we had to supply to the wives and children of persons serving in his Department because his Department are refusing to co-operate?
We are concerned only with the houses under discussion at the moment.
In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I propose, with your permission, a Chinn Chomhairle, to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
It will be considered together with the other request to raise a matter on the Adjournment.