asked the Minister for Local Government if he will give immediate sanction to the plans to erect rural cottages submitted by Cork County Council, southern area; and if he will state the dates on which the various compulsory purchase orders were lodged in his Department by the Housing Committee, and the reason for the delay in giving the sanction sought.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Cork Rural Cottages.
40.
There are no cottage plans at present before my Department awaiting sanction.
Three compulsory purchase orders, which have not yet been decided, were received in my Department on 16th June, 1962, 7th November, 1962, and 8th January, 1963, respectively. There has been no undue delay in dealing with these orders and decisions will be issued as soon as practicable.
Does the Minister not consider the period from June 16th last inordinately long for the examination of a compulsory purchase order and does he realise that from the time an eligible applicant is actually qualified, in the opinion of the local authority, it takes from five to seven years to get a rural cottage erected for him?
In connection with that particular compulsory purchase order, objections were received in respect of the acquisition of both sites and a public local enquiry had to be held into the matter. That was a reasonable procedure to adopt when it is proposed compulsorily to acquire land.
Is it not a fact that among the sites there were some actually agreed upon?
There were only two sites involved.