asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state (a) the estimated housing need at Oldtown and district, County Dublin; (b) the number and location of cottage sites in the possession of the county council offered to the council and proposed for acquisition; (c) the probable date when houses will become available in this area; and (d) the reason for the long delay in connection with this matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Dublin Housing Needs.
26.
I understand from Dublin County Council that the estimated housing need of Oldtown and district is 25 houses, that they have acquired a site of 4½ acres for a housing scheme to meet those needs, and that no other sites have been offered to, or acquired by them in the district. I am not in a position to say when houses will become available in the area. I am informed by the council that the need for a housing scheme in Oldtown became apparent following their public advertisement inviting applications for rehousing. They had difficulty in obtaining a suitable site and had to await a piped water supply which is being provided by means of the North Dublin Regional Water Supply Scheme.
Is the Minister not aware that further difficulties have arisen in relation to sewage disposal, the proposal for which is not acceptable to the medical officer in the county and the scheme cannot be proceeded with because of this objection?
The Deputy's worries in this matter are no less than mine in so far as sites in north Dublin are concerned. Not long ago we had no sewerage and no water and no prospects of them. Now that has been accelerated, at a rather late date, and if there is objection now by the medical officer in regard to the means for sewage disposal that may be available, it is another difficulty which—
If it is cleared up in a year or two, will that not be sufficient, because the money may be available then?
Deputy Tully should not rush in here, for the simple reason that he does not know what he is talking about, which is not usual for him.
I know much more about this than the Minister does.
Would it not be fairer to tell the people there is no prospect of the houses being available sooner than two years?
Tell them why no effort was made to do anything about it at the time it should have been made.