asked the Minister for Local Government what is the present position in regard to the proposal of Offaly County Council for the erection of houses in Edenderry where over 100 persons require houses; if he will treat the housing situation in this town as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a general statement on the matter in so far as his Department are concerned, giving details of the Council's present proposals with a view to solving this serious matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Offaly Housing.
35.
I understand that the housing authority are satisfied that a further 40 houses will meet existing housing needs in Edenderry and that sketch plans for a scheme of this order have been prepared by their consultant architect and are at present being examined by the county engineer. It is a matter for the housing authority to decided the relative order of urgency of their various housing proposals.
36.
asked the Minister for Local Government if it is a fact that Offaly County Council and his Department have failed on four occasions to pass four different sites for the erection of a council cottage for Mr. Michael Murphy, Newtown, Rhode, County Offaly; if he will give reasons as to why every site offered was rejected; and if he will request a senior officer of his Department to reinspect some of these sites with a view to having one of them passed and a cottage erected for Mr. Murphy with the least possible delay.
The suggestion in the first part of the question is not a fact so far as my Department is concerned. Since May, 1965, my approval is not required for the acquisition by agreement of suitable housing sites. The remaining parts of the question do not therefore arise.