asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state when the housing scheme for Camolin was first submitted to his Department, and the cause of the delay in sanctioning the scheme, as houses are badly needed in this area.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Wexford Housing Schemes.
The proposal to acquire the housing site at Camolin was first submitted to my Department on the 23rd February, 1952, and following correspondence, was finally approved on the 12th May, 1952. Final working drawings for the house construction work were submitted on the 20th December last and a specification and estimate of cost for the road work on the 16th January. The council were informed on the 22nd January that the documents for the road work were in order but that the working drawings for the remainder of the scheme were not sufficiently detailed for contract purposes. Revised documents were requested and are, I understand, being prepared.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he has received proposals from the Enniscorthy Urban Council for a housing scheme at Boreen Hill, Enniscorthy; and, if so, if he will sanction them without delay, as the present housing scheme is coming to a close, unemployment is increasing, and there is danger of losing the skilled workers at present employed.
The design for a scheme of better-class houses at Boreen Hill, submitted to my Department by Enniscorthy Urban District Council was considered much too elaborate and costly. Modifications of the plans to provide a more economic scheme involving lower rents were accordingly suggested. It is understood that revised plans are being prepared by the local authority.
We are building down to a price now rather than up to a standard.
Three or four plans were sent to the Department fromEnniscorthy and, in spite of that, we are getting nowhere. Schemes are coming to an end there and we shall then lose our skilled men. That is why we are so anxious about this scheme and the putting of it into operation.
I understand the Deputy's anxiety. We are anxious about a number of other matters that are important also.