asked the Minister for Local Government if he will make a statement on the rate of production of houses on the National Building Agency scheme in Cork; if he is satisfied that such production is in accordance with the original plans of the National Building Agency; and if the Agency have been approached by the contractors with a view to extending the date for completion of the entire scheme which is at present 1st May, 1971.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Building Agency
8.
I would refer the Deputy to my recent speech introducing the Supplementary Estimate for my Department—Volume 244, No. 4 —Cols. 593 to 595—which contained a statement on progress with the special National Building Agency housing project being carried out on behalf of Cork Corporation.
I am satisfied that reasonable progress is now being made with the contract. Production for the past few months is in excess of that originally planned. The original programme envisaged completions at a rate of between 60 and 70 dwellings a month, with production at peak periods running at approximately 80 dwellings a month. Completion rates for the past few months have been in excess of these figures.
I understand that the contractors have submitted a claim for the extension of the contract time under a number of headings including labour shortage, weather, strikes and a change in design of flats made at the request of the corporation. These claims are being considered by the architect in charge of the project.
In replying to the Minister——
Surely the Deputy must ask a question and not reply to the Minister?
The Deputy is asking a question. The Minister should take his time.
(Interruptions.)
Order.
The Deputy said he was replying.
I am asking a question. Surely the Minister cannot be satisfied with the progress of housing in Cork? At the end of February we got 324 houses when we should have got 958 houses. There are people still living in slum conditions in Cork.
We cannot have a debate on this.
(Interruptions.)