asked the Minister for Local Government whether he has any information in his Department as to how the Irish housing programme compares with those in EEC countries in the period since 1960.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Housing Programme.
39.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 129 of the 11th ultimo.
Is the Minister satisfied with the comparability with EEC countries in that period?
No, these figures do not give a direct comparison at all.
Is the Minister attempting to say that his Department find it impossible to compare our housing achievements or non-achievements with those of countries with which we seek to be associated in a common market?
The figures would have to be read in conjunction with the footnote.
Could the Minister not supply us with the footnote?
Yes, it is in the publication, Housing in the Seventies.
Therefore, could the Minister say how they do compare and if he is satisfied with the comparability?
The Deputy would want to read the footnote.
The Minister appears not to have read the footnote. As he is the responsible Minister, can he give me his opinion as to the achievement to date?
It refers amongst other things to the number of houses that have been reconstructed to the same standard as new houses in the meantime and the Deputy studiously refrains from taking that into account.
I require the information from the Minister.
Is the Minister aware that there is no country in Western Europe, with the possible exception of the dictatorship of Portugal, whose rate of housing construction is nearly as low as ours and no amount of footnotes will get over that fact?
As I said, the Deputy should read the document again and he may understand it next time.
I read the footnote with some amazement.
He should read it thoroughly.
I have read the four footnotes, actually.