asked the Minister for Local Government if he has received repeated proposals from the Wicklow Urban District Council for approval for the erection of three houses in the Castle Street area; if so, what the date of the application was; and what his decision was on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Erection of Wicklow Houses.
12.
A proposal for the erection of three houses at Castle Street, Wicklow, which had originally been submitted by Wicklow Urban District Council, in February, 1959, was again put forward for consideration by the Council on the 9th ultimo. I have informed the Council that I will raise no objection in principle to the proposal on the understanding that the terms of this Department's Circular Letter N.4/60 of the 12th October, 1960, are being observed. This circular letter sets out the considerations to be observed by housing authorities in formulating housing proposals.
Then the statement made by officials of the Minister's Department that the proposals had been turned down is not correct?
There is a fairly long history there; it is not as neat as that. They now have approval so long as they adhere to the terms of the circular letter.
13.
asked the Minister for Local Government if his Department received an application from the Wicklow Urban District Council for permission to erect houses on a tenants' purchase scheme basis; if so, what the date of such application was; and what his decision was on the matter.
A proposal by the Wicklow Urban District Council for sanction to the erection of four "better-class" house at St. Patrick's Avenue, originally submitted in March, 1960, was again put forward for approval on 9th February, 1961. Having regard to the facilities available under the Housing Acts for the provision of private dwellings, I do not think that it is generally appropriate for housing authorities to engage in the provision of "better-class" houses for sale. Where facilities for the provision of private dwellings are made available to the extent authorised by the Housing Acts, i.e., by the provision of developed sites, supplementary grants and loans by the housing authority, with State grants and the remission of rates, the outgoings on a privately-built house compare very favourably with those for a dwelling provided by a housing authority. I have, accordingly, suggested to Wicklow Urban District Council that they should consider the provision of developed sites, supplementary grants and loans to facilitate private building for owner-occupation.