asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware of the serious housing shortage in many towns in North Tipperary; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this situation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tipperary Houses.
24.
I am not aware that the position is as stated by the Deputy. In Nenagh, a scheme of 12 houses has recently been completed at Bulfin Road, while plans are well advanced for a further scheme of 50 houses on the same site. Preliminary plans for a scheme of eight houses at William Street were approved recently by me, and I am at present awaiting a tender proposal for this scheme. In Templemore, plans are being prepared for a scheme of 12 houses at The Park while sites for a further 12 houses are also available to the council. In Thurles, a scheme of 34 dwellings is now in progress at President Kennedy Park and an extension scheme of another 34 houses for the same site is at planning stage. Sites are also available to the council for a total of 120 houses and sites are being acquired for a further 80. The National Building Agency are also helping to meet the needs of the town and at present have a 20 house scheme under construction in the town. In Roscrea, Tipperary (NR) County Council have recently completed a 20 house scheme, are preparing plans for four houses, and have acquired further sites for both local authority houses and private site development.
25.
asked the Minister for Local Government whether he has taken any action on Clonmel Corporation's proposal to rehouse old people at College Street-River Street, Clonmel, County Tipperary.
My approval to this proposal issued on the 24th October, 1968.
26.
(South Tipperary) asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state in respect of the housing estate built near Killenaule, County Tipperary, by the National Building Agency (a) the total cost of the scheme, (b) the number of houses built, (c) whether these houses were specifically marked out for workers at Ballingarry anthracite mines, (d) the number of houses at present occupied by such workers and (e) the number of houses unoccupied.
27.
(South Tipperary) asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state in respect of the National Building Agency housing estate near Killenaule, County Tipperary, (a) the letting terms of these houses, (b) what arrangements were entered into with the proprietorship of the Ballingarry mines in respect of these houses, (c) what arrangements and commitments financial or otherwise were entered into by South Tipperary County Council in respect of this scheme, (d) whether any action is now being contemplated in respect of the substantial number of houses now lying unoccupied for a considerable period and (e) what guarantees, securities or indemnities were secured from the proprietorship of the mines in the event of non-payment of rent, non-occupancy or other contingencies.
28.
(South Tipperary) asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware that South Tipperary County Council consistently refused to build houses at the request of the owner of Ballingarry mines; how the present number of houses to be built was decided upon; whether there was ever at any stage total or near total occupancy; and if the present degree of non-occupancy is likely to increase.
With your permission, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 27 and 28 together.
I am not aware that the South Tipperary County Council consistently refused to build houses at the request of the owner of Ballingarry mines. The council did, in fact, submit a tender to my Department on 10th April, 1958. for the erection of six serviced houses at Ballingarry, for miners employed in the Ballingarry Collieries, and acceptance of that tender was approved on 10th June, 1958. These houses were being provided on one of three sites being acquired under the Tipperary (South Riding) Compulsory Purchase (Labourers Act) No. 1 Order 1956 for the provision of accommodation for miners in the Slieveardagh area. One of the conditions attaching to this scheme was that in the event of the local authority providing the houses in the vicinity of the mines they would have to be allocated in accordance with the preferences prescribed in the Housing (Management and Letting) Regulations 1950 and 1953, which meant that the miners would be considered for the tenancy of the houses only in competition with any other applicants and there would be no question of reserving the houses for them. This condition was not acceptable to the owner of Ballingarry Collieries and the houses were not accordingly provided by the council.
In September, 1961, the owner of the mines approached the National Building Agency to provide 50 houses, preferably at Killenaule, for the housing of miners at Ballingarry Collieries, and stated that he was in a position to offer immediate employment to 50 additional workers if such houses were available.
The request, being within the scope of the Agency's primary function, viz., to provide houses for workers in areas where they were required in connection with industrial development, was considered by the Agency in the light of the current and projected employment in the mines, as represented by the owner, potential output of the mines and the market for anthracite which was being produced. It was agreed as a result of this consideration to provide a scheme of 32 houses at Killenaule to meet the Collieries request.
The net cost of the scheme, after deduction of State grants, was £93,072.
The scheme was handed over to the Collieries in October, 1965, and 14 houses are at present occupied. The greatest number occupied at any particular time since handing over was 19. It is not expected that the degree of non-occupancy is likely to increase. Following discussions with the proprietor arrangements are at present being made with his consent for the disposal of some of the unoccupied houses to South Tipperary County Council for letting to persons in need of housing accommodation in the area.
The houses were provided pursuant to an agreement entered into between Ballingarry Collieries (Production) Limited and the National Building Agency, under which the company agreed to refund the cost with interest over a period of 35 years. The amount of the annual repayment was determined by the Agency having regard, inter alia, to the expenditure incurred in providing the houses and is payable irrespective of whether or not the houses are occupied. Any arrears that may be due from time to time are recoverable as a simple contract debt.
The houses are let by Ballingarry Collieries to their employees at rents which, it is understood, are being subsidised to some extent by the company. No commitments, financial or otherwise, other than an undertaking that supplementary grants would be paid, were entered into by South Tipperary County Council in respect of this scheme. No such grants have yet been paid.
29.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware of the unsatisfactory manner in which the National Building Agency has treated the many requests made to it by some residents of Gortmalogue, Clonmel, County Tipperary, for urgent repairs to houses there; and what steps he has taken to ensure that this body fulfils its obligation to remedy flagrant defects in houses erected under its supervision and control.
I am not aware that the requests made by residents of the scheme of houses provided by the National Building Agency at Gortmalogue, Clonmel, for urgent repairs have been treated in an unsatisfactory manner. I understand that defects in these houses are at present being remedied by the contractor for the scheme and I am assured that this work will be completed in the near future.