asked the Minister for Local Government if arrangements have been completed with the Dublin Gas Company for the provision of heating and cooking facilities in the new houses and flats being built by Dublin Corporation in Ballymun; and what the weekly or monthly charge will be.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ballymun Houses and Flats.
27.
In accordance with decisions of the City Council, flats in the Ballymun project will be served by an oil-fired district heating and hot water system. Charges to individual tenants for these services will be determined by the housing authority. Two-storey houses will be served by gas-fired warm air and multi-point water heaters. The gas company's charges for these services will, in the normal course, be related to the rate of consumption of individual tenants. Cooking facilities in all dwellings will be by gas or electricity at the tenants' option, payment by the tenant being related to his rate of consumption.
Could the Minister tell us when the corporation are likely to get a handover of the first houses in Ballymun? The corporation were told initially that the first handover would be in July, 1965. Would the Minister not agree that it is possible, had they been built traditionally, we would have got a handover well before now?
That seems to be a separate question altogether.
I would be quite prepared to deal with the questions raised by Deputy Cluskey by way of supplementaries, but this is a separate matter entirely and not just a matter of a plain "Yes" or "No". It is much wider than that, as the Deputy is probably aware.
I shall put down a question for next week.
The Minister understands the kind of handover they are looking for.
Yes.
28.
asked the Minister for Local Government what extra facilities will be afforded to tenants in the houses and flats being built at Ballymun, Dublin; and what extra charges weekly or monthly it is intended to make to the tenants.
The project, as authorised by the City Council, includes central heating and hot water supplies, additional toilet and wash-up facilities in houses, lifts, separate vehicular and pedestrian traffic and landscaping. In association with the housing estate, a town centre incorporating shops and other commercial buildings is proposed, and suitable sites are reserved for schools and a church. Proposals for interim revisions of their differential rents scheme which the corporation have submitted to me, and which will apply to all lettings, including Ballymun, provide that where additional works or services are provided for tenants, a charge may be made there-for, but I understand that no decision has yet been made as to what effect, if any, this provision will have in relation to lettings at Ballymun.
Could the Minister tell us how long he estimates it will take to provide these additional facilities? Will that be done simultaneously with the building of the houses and flats?
It will be done at the same time as the houses.
We would hope so.
Before the programme is finished.
I would hope so. In fact, I hope they will commence pretty soon.