asked the Minister for Local Government when he expects that the present investigation into defects in houses in the course of erection at Coolock, Dublin will be completed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Defects in County Dublin Houses.
26.
Mr. O'Leary
I understand that a recent investigation undertaken by Dublin Corporation into alleged defects in their recently completed houses in the Coolock-Kilmore scheme has disclosed that any defects complained of were not serious, that most of them had been dealt with by the contractor before the complaints were received and that any further defects which may arise will be dealt with by the contractor in the normal way within the maintenance period.
Mr. O'Leary
Does the Minister realise that for the past five weeks there has been a holdup in the handing over of houses as a result of the situation which he says is not serious? Is the Minister serious in his reply?
I do not make replies in this House unless I am serious or under provocation.
Mr. O'Leary
In spite of six weeks' delay——
I am answering the question to the best of my ability on the advice available to me, and that is the answer, seriously.
Can we be assured that these houses will be handed over as quickly as possible?
That is a separate question.
Will the Minister agree that the fact that Dublin Corporation received no hand-over of the houses was due to the fact——
There is nothing in the question dealing with the handing-over of houses.
It relates to defects.
I have answered the question on defects and there is nothing, as far as I am aware, being covered up by that reply. The answer is as I have given it, seriously, to a question seriously asked. I have nothing to add at this stage.