asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state the present position with regard to work on local authority houses; if in view of the high labour content he will make a statement regarding public and private housing; and what progress is being made on the reconstruction of old houses.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - General Housing Situation.
60.
The position with regard to work on local authority houses at 31st October last, which is the most recent date for which full particulars are available, was that 1,797 dwellings were under construction. Tenders had been invited or accepted for 683 houses, sites had been developed or were in course of development for 2,664 houses and local authorities had acquired further sites for the erection of 10,438 houses in the future.
The general policy in regard to public and private housing has been outlined in my speeches on the Estimates for my Department in 1958 and 1959 and also in connection with the Second Reading Stage in Dáil Éireann of the Housing (Amendment) Bill, 1958. These statements still represent, generally, the official policy in regard to housing matters.
Satisfactory progress is being made with the reconstruction, repair and improvement of existing houses assisted by grants under the Housing (Financial and Miscellaneous Provisions) Acts. The number of such grants allocated in the first eight months of the current financial year was 9,153. This compares with 9,314 in the full year 1958/59 and 8,562 in 1957/58. Recent trends in regard to the allocation of the grants indicate that a further substantial extension of reconstruction work may be anticipated in the near future.
May I ask, Sir, who asked Question No. 60?
Deputy O'Malley did.
Did Deputy O'Malley ask Question No. 60?
It has been answered anyway.
At the start of the questions, Deputy O'Malley was very fussy about who was asking the questions.
Does this arise, Sir, on the reply?
Of course it arises.
Question No. 61.