asked the Minister for Local Government whether the Ballymun housing project, Dublin, can be speeded up during the summer months to meet the original schedule.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ballymun Housing Project.
1.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to a question on the progress of the Ballymun housing project raised by Deputy Moore on the 4th instant, in which I indicated that the contractors had recently expressed the view that, given a continuance of the then current rate of output, they would hope to complete all of the dwellings within the contract period.
Does the Minister appreciate that this scheme is over a year behind schedule; that this is one of the props of his Department's pledge to provide housing in Dublin and can he do anything to speed it up over the summer months?
It is not very seriously behind schedule but in the early part of the work, it did meet with some setbacks over which nobody had any control. According to the present rate of output it will, in fact, be completed within the contract period.
Can the Minister at this stage give any hope to the 10,000 people in Dublin who are looking for houses that before the term of this Government is over they will, in fact, have adequate shelter?
Yes; if I get the co-operation of Dublin Corporation, there is considerable hope. I do not know what the recent manoeuvrings mean, though.
In view of the fact that this new departure building at the Ballymun project is justified on two grounds, one, that it would provide houses quicker, and the other that it would provide houses cheaper, and in the event has not provided them quicker, is the Minister now satisfied that the houses to be provided will be any cheaper than those built by conventional methods; and will there arise very serious social problems from the high buildings in which a multitude of families are dependent on one or two lifts as have arisen in Cleveland and, I believe, in Paris?
This is providing houses in addition to what could be provided by Dublin Corporation in their normal housing programme. Therefore, it is, in fact, making houses available at a faster rate than would otherwise be possible.
In saying "if I get the co-operation of Dublin Corporation", was the Minister attempting to blame a subordinate body like Dublin Corporation for the lack of housing progress in Dublin?
No. I did not attempt to blame them for the lack of housing in Dublin although part of the responsibility is theirs for a wrong assessment of the position that arose out of the large-scale emigration in 1956 and 1957.
Emigration took place in 1959, 1960 and 1961.
The Minister is saying that a majority of Fianna Fáil councillors in 1956 were responsible for the housing situation?
There has never been a majority of Fianna Fáil councillors. There was always a coalition majority.
Mr. O'Leary
There is a new coalition on it now.
There is the existing coalition between Fine Gael and Labour. Fine Gael and Labour have bartered out the committees between them. The coalition is still in existence.
Let us sing the praises of the surplus of houses available in 1957.