asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state the number of occasions on which the Housing Consultative Council met during the years ended 31st December, 1953, 1954, 1955 and in 1956 to date.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing Consultative Council.
I am informed that no meeting of the Dublin Housing Consultative Council has been held since 14th July, 1952.
Why?
It is a matter entirely for the chairman to call the meeting. It is up to themselves.
Has the Minister a consultative council to advise him and to whom does he go when they are not there?
They do not advise me at all. They are set up to advise Dublin County Council and Dublin Corporation, if information or advice is sought by either of these bodies. All they have to do is consult the chairman and convene a meeting.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state the names of the persons appointed to the Housing Consultative Council.
The persons appointed as members of the Dublin Housing Consultative Council were:—
Chairman, Mr. T.C. O'Mahoney, Dublin Housing Director. Vice-Chairman, the late Alderman Martin O'Sullivan. Members, Mr. J.J. Phelan, Mr. Con Lehane, Mr. H. Gibbons, Mr. G.H.C. Crampton, Mr. Maurice E. Dockrell, the late Mr. Thomas Dunne, Mr. Leo Crawford, Miss Eleanor Butler, Mr. Michael Hearne, the late Very Rev. Canon Joseph McArdle, Mr. John Belton.
Why was the council set up and what does it do? I could not follow the Minister's replies to previous supplementary questions.
I understand the council was set up a good many years ago—in 1949. It is significant that, since 1952, there has been no meeting of the council. It is a matter for the chairman to convene the meeting and advise Dublin County Council and various other bodies on any questions on which they seek advice.
Was it not set up to deal with the self-same type of situation as faces us now?
I quite agree. If they want any advice they can call a meeting of the council.
Would there be a quorum left on that council now?
Of course there would. Only three of them have passed on.
asked the Minister for Local Government whether he consulted the Housing Consultative Council prior to, or has consulted it since, the incidence of the present housing crisis.
With regard to the Deputy's reference to a housing crisis, I would refer her to my remarks on this matter in concluding the debate on the Local Government Estimate.
The consultative council was appointed for the purpose of, inter alia, advising the housing authorities in Dublin City and County on any question which might be referred to them with regard to matters arising in connection with the administration of the Housing Acts in those areas and of making such representations as they thought fit on housing matters to the Minister for Local Government. The council have made no such representations to me.