Vol. 246 No. 12
asked the Minister for Local Government if he intends to take any emergency action to alleviate the heavy financial commitments of the residents in Ballymun dwellings, Dublin, with particular reference to the high rates and central heating charges, as many of these dwellings are completely unsuitable for young children and as, according to medical research which is being carried out in Zurich, central heating can be a causative factor in the increase in certain medical illnesses.
63.
asked the Minister for Local Government whether there were any health experts involved or any health survey carried out prior to the erection of the high tower dwellings in Ballymun, Dublin with reference to the detrimental effect that they could have on the medical welfare of the residents.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Numbers 62 and 63 together.
It is a fundamental aspect of differential renting schemes—such as that which applies to houses and flats provided by Dublin Corporation at Ballymun—that the rent payable by each tenant shall be directly related to the income and other circumstances of his household. For example, a man earning £18 a week and supporting a wife and four children would pay only about £3 a week in rent and rates for a five-roomed house in Ballymun, plus a charge for central heating and hot water, although it costs the corporation more than £6 a week to provide and maintain the house—over and above the rates element. Their costs for similar accommodation in a flat in the scheme would be much higher. In cases of hardship, the corporation may remit the rent altogether. Under the Local Government (Rates) Act, 1970, they may also abate the rates charge.
Subsidies for the Ballymun scheme alone amounted to about £605,000 in 1969-70. These subsidies came from rates and taxes paid by persons, many of whom are worse housed or paying substantially more for their accommodation than the tenants concerned. For example, many persons buying new houses with local authority loans have incomes of about the same level as that in the example I quoted. They pay, on average, an estimated £6 10s. per week for their accommodation plus rates and heating charges, or more than twice the figure in the example. I do not therefore, propose to increase the Ballymun subsidies. I trust that most of the people who are well housed in Ballymun would not wish to have diverted to extra subsidies, public funds which should be used to build decent houses for the many families still in need of them.
As regards the cost of central heating, I would refer the Deputy to the reply to Question No. 7 of 11th March, 1970. I would also refer him to the reply to Question No. 23 of 29th October, 1969, about the type of central heating provided in Ballymun.
High rise flats were included as an integral part of the general plan and design of the Ballymun project, based on the Balency system which has been used in many other countries as a normal type of family dwelling.
With regard to the health and medical aspects referred to in the questions and especially the reference to research in Zurich, I would refer the Deputy to the reply of the Minister for Health to Questions Nos. 6, 7 and 8 of 29th October, 1969, and the supplementaries arising out of his reply.
I realise that there may well be certain inconveniences for families with young children who are living in the high rise flats. I have asked the corporation to consider offering such families alternative accommodation when the general housing situation in the city so permits.
Arising from the Minister's reply, and with particular reference to his referring back to the replies of the Minister for Health in October, the Minister for Health on that occasion was completely unaware of any research that had been carried out in Zurich which related central heating to increased incidence of illness for those living under conditions of central heating. Is the Minister aware that the central heating is compulsory, cannot be controlled and is causing increased incidence of illness, particularly in young children, that there is increased incidence of neurotic complaints among young mothers in these flats and that there are little or no recreational facilities for the 30,000 people living there? In view of this and of the fact that the flats would be uninhabitable without central heating, would he not consider alleviating the central heating charges for all the tenants in view of the fact that this would cost merely £200,000 a year?
I should like to make it quite clear that it is not intended to remove the central heating charge. In regard to questions relating to health matters I would refer the Deputy to the Minister for Health.
The Minister said that the rent paid by these people was small compared with what is paid by people purchasing their own houses but he will agree that there is no comparison between persons buying their own houses and those living on the 14th or 15th floor of Ballymun. I do not think it is fair to attempt to make such a comparison because 90 per cent of the people in Ballymun would exchange with people buying their own houses at the risk of financial stringency as a result. The next thing I would like to bring to the Minister's attention——
Is the Deputy asking a question?
In view of the fact that there is an increased incidence of illness among the people in Ballymun —and that there is no doubt that there is such an increase because we are meeting it every day as Deputies in Dublin city; we are seeing it—would the Minister ask the Dublin City Medical Officer to institute a survey of the incidence of illness so that we might be able to do something about it? In medical history it is a fact that some of the greatest discoveries have been made by patients, not doctors, and the patients in this case, the residents of Ballymun, state categorically that there is an increase in illness in their children. I, personally, as a doctor have seen it and I respectfully suggest that the Minister should ask the City Medical Officer to initiate an investigation.
Further arising——
I am sorry but this question has been fully discussed.
There are two questions and there have been only two supplementary questions——
I am sorry but I have given a ruling that this has been dealt with. The decision rests with the Chair. Question No. 64.
