asked the Minister for Local Government on what basis he stated in a recent reply that almost one half of the persons on the Dublin housing list could be housed immediately if preference were waived.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Housing List.
30.
The basis of the state ment in my reply of 15th May that more than half of the 2,034 sub-tenants of corporation houses approved for re-housing could be offered accommodation almost immediately, if they were prepared to waive preferences for particular areas, was the information supplied by the corporation that accommodation could be offered to 1,094 of these tenants if they waived preferences for particular areas.
Is the Minister aware that there are hundreds of subtenants awaiting accommodation who have indicated they will accept accommodation anywhere near Dublin and the Corporation say they cannot house them in the near future?
Yes.
And that is a direct contradiction of what the Minister has just stated.
It is not a contradiction of what I have stated. I said 1,094 could be offered accommodation.
Will the Minister ask Dublin Corporation to tell these 1,094 families they can be accommodated immediately?
They know that.
They do not. Will the Minister ask Dublin Corporation to tell them?
They know that. This is information I have got from Dublin Corporation.
The Corporation are not giving these people this information.
There are these 1,094 subtenants who come within the category entitled to priority and they can be accommodated if they waive their preference for particular areas.
Question No. 31.
Does the Minister say there are 1,000 odd vacancies on hand for offer to applicants immediately by Dublin Corporation and has he asked if, in effect, this number have said they will not go to Ballymun? Is that what he is saying?
Yes. The latter part of what the Deputy has suggested is, in effect, the position, but I do not, of course, think that Dublin Corporation would be so foolish as to keep 1,094 houses or flats vacant.
The Minister made a statement——
I said these people could be offered accommodation almost immediately if they were prepared to waive preferences.
Question No. 31.
Somebody has taken these vacancies by now?
Of course they have.
So, therefore, the vacancies are not there.
That is about six months' supply. Surely Deputy Tully would not advocate that a housing authority should keep 1,094 vacant houses on hands?
Question No. 31.
I advocate the Minister should state what the facts are. These 1,094 are not vacant and cannot be given to anybody.
Of course, they are not vacant. It was only when Deputy Tully's colleagues were in office that there were that number of houses on hands.
(Interruptions.)
Order. I have called Question No. 31. Will Deputies cease interrupting and allow the Minister to reply?
The Minister said they were vacant.
I did not. I said these people could be accommodated if they waived their preferences for particular areas.
That is wrong.
It is not. The information I have came from Dublin Corporation.
We have now moved from "Blaney's blarney" to "Boland's bluff".
Order. Question No. 31.
These people could be accommodated if they waived their preference for particular areas. That is the fact.
(Interruptions.)
Order.
I am well aware of the fact that Deputy O'Connell's colleagues who are members of Dublin Corporation are trying to obstruct the housing activities of Dublin Corporation.
(Interruptions.)
Will Deputies allow Question No. 31 to be answered?
We have now moved from "Blaney's blarney" to "Boland's bluff".
(Interruptions.)
Question No. 31.
I repeat, for the Deputy's information, that 1,094 of these people could be accommodated if they would waive their preference for particular areas.
Will the Minister ask Dublin Corporation to tell these people that?