asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state in what local authority areas delays of three years and more have occurred from the time the local authority decided on a housing scheme and the actual completion of the first house in such schemes; if such delays have been caused by procedures within his Department; and whether he has any solution for such unreasonable delays in the face of grave needs.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - House Building Delays.
37.
Local authorities do not inform me of the dates on which they decide to carry out housing schemes and I cannot, therefore, indicate the particular areas requested.
The information at my disposal indicates, however, that there may be a period of three years or more between the time a local authority first considers undertaking a housing scheme and the completion of the dwellings. Such a period does not necessarily include avoidable delays: it is taken up with the necessary processes of site acquisition, preparation of plans and contract documents, invitation and consideration of tenders and the actual work of development and building.
All these procedures are time-consuming and almost all, of necessity, must follow each other. Many special difficulties can arise at various stages, which may increase the time before the first house is completed.