asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that many families live in houses which are unhealthy, insanitary and in some cases structurally unsound; and that many of these people are unable to reconstruct their present houses or build new ones; and if he will (a) introduce a scheme of grants adequate to cover the total cost of reconstruction or of building new houses or (b) arrange that his Department will take over and complete the necessary works for the people concerned.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unfit Houses: Reconstruction and Building Grants.
19.
Complete returns from the 1960-61 housing survey are not yet available, but preliminary results furnished so far show that there is still a considerable number of unfit houses in several areas and that many of these houses are occupied by persons in the lower income groups. I am pressing the local authorities who have not yet done so to expedite the submission of the data necessary to enable the overall problem to be properly assessed. The information is required in connection with the consideration of housing legislation due to be introduced next year. I am unable to indicate the possible contents of that legislation in advance of its introduction.