asked the Minister for Local Government whether his Department was consulted on the terms prior to Dublin Corporation entering into contractual agreements with a firm (name supplied) in Donaghmede, County Dublin; whether the local authority is free to draw up contracts without reference to specified criteria; whether his Department has in the course of this scheme made inquiries as to progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Housing Contracts.
30.
A local authority have full statutory power to erect, acquire, purchase, convert or reconstruct, lease or otherwise provide dwellings. Except where there is a specific statutory requirement to the contrary they can do all things necessary to this end, including the making of contracts.
In pursuance of this power, the corporation, following public advertisement in February, 1968, entered into contracts for the provision of 1,352 purchase-type houses, including 732 at Donaghmede.
My Department were not consulted before the contracts were signed by the corporation. Consultation took place about the financing of the schemes and it was agreed that they would be financed in part from the corporation's capital allocation for house-purchase loans and grants and in part by loans guaranteed by the corporation from commercial agencies. Approval was also given to the sale of the houses at a price not less than the full cost to the corporation of providing them, less the appropriate State and local authority grants.
The corporation are responsible for providing the houses and seeing that the contract terms are observed. In accordance with normal practice my Department do not interfere with the local authority in the discharge by them of their functions.
As the detailed administration of the schemes is entirely a matter for the corporation my Department have not been seeking progress reports on them.
Does the Minister's brief state which building firm was involved in this scheme?
Yes.
Which firm?
The Deputy did not mention the name of the firm when he put down the question.
Was it the Gallagher Group?
I am not sure what is the propriety of this but it seems to me that, since the Deputy did not mention a name when putting down a question, there must have been some reason for his not doing so.
What is the mystery? I am asking for confirmation as to whether it was the Gallagher Group. Is there any reason why the Minister should not give the answer?
The answer is yes.
It took a long time to get the answer.
Is the Minister aware that this scheme which comprises many hundreds of houses has been completed for the past six or eight months but that no satisfactory explanation has been given as to why people cannot yet live in the houses? Is he aware that during the same period the price of the houses has increased? Have his Department any satisfactory explanation to offer for this state of affairs?
I am aware that such complaints have been made but, so far as I know, the complaints are not justified. These complaints may have arisen by reason of the fact that some of the houses were completed externally but not completed internally and that, therefore, it appeared they were completed when this was not the case.
This is an unfair situation. Can the Minister state if his brief gives any explanation as to why hundreds of houses which are apparently completed are left standing idle for a number of months while people are without accommodation or living in very poor accommodation?
The information available to me indicates that that statement is not correct. I understand that there were no completed houses left idle.
Would the Minister ask his colleague to inquire into this whole contract situation in Donaghmede? I can assure the Minister that there are a lot of disquieting factors involved. The Department cannot shun responsibility in this matter. There is an onus on the Department to inquire into this contract.
We cannot have a debate on these questions.
I asked a question about this last week and the Minister for Local Government informed me he had no function in the matter. There is a lot of public disquiet in regard to this scheme and the people concerned have been unable to obtain any information from Dublin Corporation about their houses. The Minister has a duty——
The Deputy may not make a speech on the question.
May I ask the Minister if it is because one individual who had received moneys is now under arrest or, at least, there has been issued a warrant for his arrest, that this trouble arose?
It seems to me that that is an entirely different matter. Also, the Deputy is referring to a case that is sub judice.
I am asking if that is the reason?
Will the Deputy please resume his seat?
The remarks made by the Deputies will, of course, be conveyed to the Minister for Local Government.