asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware that owing to the failure of over half the lifts in the Ballymun high rise dwellings great hardship is being caused to residents, in particular to pregnant women whose health is endangered by having to climb many flights of stairs, and to many young children who have had to be confined to their homes since the failure, and that many residents, particularly the elderly, are in effect isolated; and if he will take immediate steps to have the lifts restored to use.
Private Notice Question: - Ballymun (Dublin) Lifts.
I understand that, arising from an industrial dispute between the maintenance contractor and his electricians, a number of lifts in Ballymun are out of commission. Talks between the parties failed to resolve the dispute. It is open to one or both of the parties to seek the intervention of the Labour Court. It would not be appropriate for me to intervene in the dispute until the normal procedures for settlement have been used. However, I am informed by Dublin Corporation that they have had talks with both sides and have got agreement to temporary arrangements pending the resolution of the dispute for the servicing of the lifts that are out of commission. Repair work is being resumed today.
Could the Minister make the same arrangements here as he made in regard to oil supplies where now three firms supply them instead of one? Was the servicing built into the cost of these lifts or would it not be possible to get an Irish firm to give a better and more up-to-date service than the English firm is giving?
Even if that were done I do not think that would guarantee there would never be an industrial dispute. This is due to the fact that there is an industrial dispute. As I have said, Dublin Corporation, after discussions with both sides, have succeeded in getting agreement to emergency repairs being carried out on the lifts that are out of order. I do not see that anything more could be done.
Is the Minister aware that, even previous to this, public representatives had been receiving complaints for a number of years, in fact since the start of the scheme, that these lifts were not working properly, that week after week they broke down? Would the Minister now arrange a top level investigation into the efficiency of the lift system in Ballymun?
That is greatly exaggerated. There were some difficulties initially in regard to the working of these lifts, but I am satisfied they have been overcome.
Are they cheap lifts?
They are good lifts.
It was a wrong development from beginning to end.
The residents have been caused a lot of trouble.
I am aware that the provision of over 3,000 dwellings surplus to what the corporation could provide has caused the Fine Gael Party a lot of trouble.
You should have built houses for them from 1958 to 1964.
We can go back to that any time Deputy L'Estrange wishes.
In view of the emergency situation which has arisen in Ballymun, I should like, on behalf of the people there, to ask the Minister to thank the members of the corporation who have succeeded in working out an ad hoc arrangement for the maintenance of the lifts.
I shall do that. It is not the members; it is the officials.