asked the Minister for local Government if he will state the housing authorities which have applied for his consent to subdivide cottage plots under section 23 (1) of the Labourers Act, 1963; the authorities which have been (a) granted and (b) refused permission and the latest date of consent in each case; and if he will indicate generally the conditions, if any, to which consents are subject.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Subdivision of Cottage Plots.
13.
The detailed information requested by the Deputy could not be compiled without an undue amount of research. Most housing authorities have requested my consent to the subdivision of cottage plots from time to time. Each application is considered on its merits. I have not been able to trace any case of refusal of consent in recent years.
Is the Minister aware that there are a few stubborn county managers who are refusing to accept the Minister's assurance that this can be done without any grave inconvenience to anybody concerned and would it be possible to have a circular issued to county managers pointing out that this can be done and thereby make available very many sites in certain counties where sites are almost impossible to obtain by any other means?
If the situation were such that I felt a circular would do the trick, I would gladly issue one, but my views, as expressed in this House on several occasions, are fully known to the managers, stubborn and otherwise. It is also my intention in the Housing Bill to put this beyond question by either a manager or his legal adviser.
While I appreciate that the Minister intends to make the position quite clear in the new Housing Bill, I am sure he understands that this means that a number of housing schemes which could be completed this year will be held up until that Bill has been passed. Is there anything the Minister can do to ensure that the managers who, because of the advice given them by their law agents, are still holding up the sites both for council houses and private building, will not continue to do so? Is there anything the Minister can do to help in this matter?
I would suggest that the most effective way is section 4.
I will take the Minister's advice.
When will we see the new Housing Bill?
As soon as I have it in formal legal draft, which is not too easy to get; it is a very big Bill.
It will be this session, anyhow?
Yes, quite soon, I hope, in this session.