asked the Minister for Local Government if he will ensure that the heating systems in the houses being built by the National Building Agency in Carlow will be of Irish manufacture.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Heating of Carlow Houses.
19.
The type of central heating being installed in the houses being built by the National Building Agency in Carlow was decided two years ago in consultation with the purchasers when the houses were being designed. At this stage it is too late to make any changes, as the heating unit has already been installed in two houses and units for the remaining houses have been delivered on site. Insistence on the use of an alternative Irish manufactured unit now would result in unjustifiable additional expenditure to the purchasers.
My anxiety that heating units manufactured in this country should wherever possible be used has been conveyed to the Agency.
I always understood that it was the policy of the Department to use Irish manufactured goods. Why is it that Irish manufacturers did not get priority in this instance?
That is the policy of the Department but this matter was decided in consultation with the purchasers. The only Irish manufactured unit available would be uneconomic in houses of this size. The output is too high and so the running costs and the capital cost would be uneconomic for houses of this size.
My information is that the purchase price of the Irish unit is between £20 and £30 lower than the price of the one installed. I am given to understand that a quotation was given by the Irish firm in 1965 and in the light of this why is it that an imported system is being used when the Minister and the Department say that they always use Irish manufactured goods?
My Department does not know of any such unit that is available in this country.
Is the Minister aware that the unit is manufactured in Galway by Potez?
That is the unit to which I refer and I understand that it is not designed for this purpose and would not be efficient in operation in houses of this size.
Is the Minister aware that the same unit was installed in 43 houses between Tramore, Limerick and Cork and that in Galway it was used in something like 120 houses? If it was all right in these houses it should be all right in the houses in Carlow.
My information is that this unit is not in its present form suitable for this type of house. The managing director of the firm has been asked to come in for discussions to see if it can be modified so as to make it more suitable for persons of modest income.
Question No. 20 postponed.