asked the Minister for Local Government the number of houses completed by Dún Laoghaire Borough Corporation and Dublin County Council within the constituency of Dún Laoghaire/ Rathdown since the 1st September, 1973; and the plans, if any, for the completion of more houses and the number of such intended completions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Houses.
1.
Separate details of the numbers of local authority houses completed within individual constituency areas are not available in my Department. Returns submitted to my Department by Dublin County Council and Dún Laoghaire Corporation indicate that at 30th September, last the number of local authority houses completed since 1st September, 1973, in schemes in the general area of south-east Dublin was 166. A total of 542 houses were under construction in that area at 30th September, 1974, and I understand that a further 23 houses had been completed by the 22nd of this month. The housing authorities estimate that an additional 41 houses should be completed in the area before the end of the current year. One hundred additional houses are at tender stage and 527 at planning stage.
In view of the Minister's proud boast of building 25,000 houses per year, is he aware there are some 600 families on the waiting list for houses in the Dún Laoghaire Borough Corporation area? Can the Minister give us some indication of when that list will no longer exist?
I am aware that a large number of families for a number of years have been on the waiting list in the Dún Laoghaire borough area. I am also aware that until I initiated some schemes to deal with this matter there was not much hope for those families. I am glad to tell the Deputy that, according to information I have, very definite efforts are being made to try to house at least most of those families in the next two or three years.
Is the Minister aware that the Ballybrack housing development scheme is a monument to the building programme initiated by Fianna Fáil and that since his Government have come to power little has been done in the context of housing development? Will the Minister break down the number of new houses built in the Dún Laoghaire borough area since 1st September, 1973? He did not give us those specific figures and I would appreciate it if the Minister would do so.
I will get specific figures for the Deputy if he cares to put down his question in another form next week. The fact is that for the first time in many years there is the possibility of rehousing most of those in need.
Can the Minister say when the 600 families will be re-housed? Is there a definite time limit?
I cannot do that and the Deputy must know it is impossible to give an answer to that question.
I am calling Question No. 2.
May I be allowed to ask a final supplementary question?
The Deputy must bear with the Chair. I have given him a lot of latitude but there are a large number of questions on the Order Paper and the Chair is anxious to facilitate all Deputies.
My question was properly worded and the Minister is not being fair to me. I asked for a breakdown of the numbers of houses built since 1st September, 1973, in the two local authority areas.
That is not so. The question referred to the constituency of Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown. I have told the Deputy there are no constituency figures available.
I am calling Question No. 2.