asked the Minister for Local Government (a) the number and size of houses and flats planned for the Ballymun building site, Dublin, (b) the names of the firms participating in the building consortium there and their functions, (c) the date upon which tenders for works were placed with these firms, (d) the date upon which it was originally estimated that houses would become available there for occupation, (e) the number of houses occupied to date, (f) the reason for the long delay in provision of urgently needed houses there, (g) the total number of dwellings which will be provided there during the present year, if any, and (h) whether he is satisfied with progress in this scheme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ballymun Housing Project.
10.
The contract provides for the erection of 3,021 dwellings, comprising 2,569 in blocks from four to 15 storeys and 452 in two-storey housing. In the light of the Corporation's schedule of requirements, the dwellings range in size from one-bedroom flats to houses of three bedrooms with two living rooms and kitchen. The contractors are the Cubitt Haden Sisk consortium, a partnership with joint and several liability. The contract period is four years from February, 1965. The first prototype houses were erected in the summer of 1965 and the contractors then hoped to provide two-storey houses for occupation later in that year while the general site development and the construction and equipping of the large concrete factory was proceeding. I gave the House and the Corporation the reasons why the projected target of construction and occupation could not be maintained during the winter and spring months. The revised programme of construction, which does not alter the period of contract, provides for the erection of about 850 dwellings this year. I said before that I am never satisfied with the rate of housing progress where it can be increased, but it would be unfair to suggest that there is absence of progress on this scheme. Up to last month, 8.95 miles of storm and foul sewers and 4.1 miles of roadways had been constructed. Two hundred houses are under construction of which 65 are virtually ready for occupation. Erection of the first blocks of flats has commenced and the construction of further slab-foundations is proceeding. This rate of development and construction is considerably in advance of the normal pace of housing operations on any unplanned virgin site of a scale approximate to that at Ballymun.
Does the Minister suggest this is satisfactory development when we have not yet got—when I say "we", I mean Dublin Corporation — any handover of houses at Ballymun, 18 months after the start of the scheme, despite the fact that an assurance was given in the early part of last year that houses would be available there for occupation by last August? Does the Minister maintain, in face of that, that there has been progress? Does he not, on the contrary, agree there has been a scandalous delay — no other words will describe the situation—in the provision of houses there and that a totally false impression has been created in the minds of many thousands of Dublin families in urgent need of housing accommodation, who have been disappointed with the assurance given regarding the provision of houses at Ballymun? They have now been waiting for the past 18 months to see any positive signs of results. I should like further, with your indulgence, a Cheann Comhairle; to ask will the Minister take steps to get these people out in Ballymun to get a move on and will he take cognisance of the fact that it is just not good enough to try to cover up for them here because of their neglect of this very essential work?
I shall take the Deputy up on his last point first in relation to my covering up for these people. I do not want Deputy Dunne or any other Deputy to push me into a position in which I might appear to be condoning any delays that might have taken place, whatever may have been the cause. The causes of the delays in the winter and spring have already been thoroughly ventilated here. While I would wish that they had not occurred, they were delays over which neither I nor the contractors had any control. The delays occurred because of the very adverse weather. I should like to see much greater progress, but the progress that has taken place is to be commended, remembering the unsuitable weather.
Would the Minister agree that the main justification for this type of building was that it was much speedier than traditional building? Is the Minister still of the opinion that it is quicker?
I am very much of that opinion.
Why have we not got the houses then?
There is no site of the scale of Ballymun that was started as a virgin unplanned site in such a short space of time as last February 12 months that has ever in the history of building here shown progress to the same degree. Nevertheless we would all like to see greater progress still.
The Minister's reply relates simply to the size of the job.
No.
This is a method to conceal the fact that there has been no progress on the scheme. This is a method to confuse the issue. Many jobs have been completed within 18 months and many houses have been produced in such a period in considerable numbers.
What I want——
That was during the time of another Government, I will agree.
——to make clear is that this is a virgin site on which neither planning nor development works had started before the signing of the contract in February of last year. No scheme has ever gone so far in such a short time.
Would the Minister not agree he was aware of the size of the site and its undeveloped condition when we were assured in Dublin Corporation that we would get the first handover last June?
It almost appears now as if the promise was that the houses would be handed over before the contract was signed. The Deputy knows quite well that this matter of delay was due to unheard of adverse weather, weather over which neither I nor anybody else had any control. I knew the size of the site. I knew the scope of the development. I knew all the difficulties we might encounter but I did not know, and neither did the Deputy for all his foresight, that the weather would be such as we experienced during the winter and spring.
That is ridiculous.
It is not the complete answer.
It is true, and the Deputy knows it.
Just one other question.
I cannot allow any more supplementaries.
Is it suggested that weather is not taken into account at all by builders?
There are over 50 questions on the Order Paper and other Deputies are entitled to have their questions answered.
I feel Ballymun would progress somewhat better, and with better hope for the future, if those who are apparently so concerned about it used their energies in other ways than criticising the lack of progress.
Like what? Go out and build the houses? The Minister's National Building Agency is a flop. It is they who are responsible. Now the Minister wants us to go out and build the houses for him.
And stop the rain.
It would not be the first time I took a spade in my hand. I am digging a grave for some of you over there right now.