asked the Minister for Local Government the number of families of (a) five (b) four and (c) three living in one room on the Dublin Corporation housing list; and when he estimates that such families will be offered accommodation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing for Dublin Families.
26.
I understand that Dublin Corporation have on their waiting list for rehousing 801 families of five persons in one room, 1,676 families of four persons in one room and 1,165 families of three persons in one room. The corporation are at present rehousing families of five persons in one room, but are unable to say at present when the rehousing of smaller families will be commenced.
So that the public will not be misled, I should like to ask the Minister when he got that information from the corporation. No later than yesterday I was informed that the corporation are now housing eight and seven in one room and would not reach five for some weeks, due to the fact that no houses have been completed for the last three weeks or more.
I am afraid I cannot say as to just when exactly this information was obtained, but——
It is not accurate and people will be misled.
——I have every reason to believe it was got since the question was put down. I am quite sure we are not working on information that we had some months ago.
I am not disputing that.
I have nothing here to show whether we got this information yesterday or the day before. All I am saying is that I am quite sure we got it since the question was put down.
All I am concerned to do is to ensure that the public will not get the wrong idea. Those of us who meet people in need of houses, and that is on every day of the week, people who may see the Minister's answer, may easily have it quoted to us and these people will insist that five are being housed and they should be getting houses. I have been informed by a housing official of Dublin Corporation that at the moment they are only dealing with eight and seven and are likely to be in that position for some weeks to come.
The only thing I can do is check and find out what the actual position is. It would appear from the Deputy's information that this information is not correct. I will check it.