asked the Minister for Local Government the number of special housing units, flats, etc., for (i) elderly single persons and (ii) elderly couples at present provided by the local authority in Dublin City and County; and the number of such houses or flats (a) built during the past five years and (b) which are at present proposed to be built during the next five years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing of Aged Persons in Dublin.
21.
It has been Corporation practice to rehouse persons in the categories mentioned in one-roomed or two-roomed dwellings, only some of which were provided specially for use by elderly persons. There are 4,081 one and two-roomed dwellings in the Corporation housing estate, of which 476 were provided in the past five years.
Dublin County Council have provided nine one and two-roomed dwellings in their estate, all of which were built more than five years ago.
I am not in a position to state the number of such dwellings proposed to be built during the next five years by either housing authority but Dublin Corporation have at present 71 in course of erection and a programme of approximately another 1,000 is at present planned.
In the case of Dublin County Council, if plans are submitted, can the Minister say is it the policy of the Department to sanction them? I understand there are some objections to proposals which Dublin County Council submitted.
If there are, then I am not aware of them. In answer to the general question, the policy of the Department would be to approve these plans with all possible speed.
Surely not for one-room flats?
If there is a need which is adequately satisfied by one-room flats, yes. If there is not such a need obviously the answer is "No".
I do not know what need could be met by people eating and sleeping in one room.
This is a matter to which quite a few people have given a great deal of thought and, if I get proposals which prove that one-room flats will meet an existing need, and holding up the proposal would prevent a mitigation of existing circumstances, then it will not be held up in an effort to have two-roomed flats substituted.
Would the Minister not take the initiative in this?
I would, but I have not got it to take. Let me say I should like to take it.