asked the Minister for Local Government if he will indicate the repairs and faults in the Rockfield Park housing scheme in Kilmacanogue, County Wicklow, which are the responsibility of the NBA and those which are the responsibility of the contractors.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Wicklow Houses.
17.
The defects liability period for the National Building Agency project at Rockfield Park, Kilmacanogue, has expired, and in the normal course of events any remedial works or repairs would now be the responsibility of the local authority. However, there are still certain matters which the contractor has not completed to the satisfaction of the agency in accordance with his contract and he has been asked to carry out the necessary works.
Surely that cannot be the case because the local authority have not taken over the scheme.
As Deputy Murphy is aware, these are some of the guaranteed order houses, some of the terribly bad houses which were built.
I asked a direct question.
Let us not engage in argument.
I do not know whether or not they have taken it over, but whether or not they have taken it over, apparently the situation is that there is still some work which has not yet been completed by the contractor which the NBA, who are only an agency and who do not build houses, are asking to have carried out.
The precise question I asked the Minister was if he will indicate the repairs and faults in the Rockfield Park housing scheme in Kilmacanogue, County Wicklow, which are the responsibility of the NBA and those which are the responsibility of the contractors.
Order. Repetition should not be indulged in.
I am sure Deputy Murphy would not expect me to give him a list of the odds and ends of which he and I are both aware which were wrong with those houses almost immediately after they were occupied. We saw them. We saw people who were prepared to point out numerous defects within months of occupation. That is why I stopped that type of scheme. It would not be much use to Deputy Murphy or the House if I read out a list of the small things and big things which still need to be corrected. The National Building Agency have assured me whatever should have been done will be done before the contractor gets his money.
What exactly have the NBA assured the Minister will be done?
According to the reply which I have just given to the Deputy there are still certain matters which the contractor has not completed to the satisfaction of the agency in accordance with his contract—they are matters in the contract—and he has been asked to carry out the necessary works. If Deputy Murphy likes, I am quite sure I would be able to supply him with details of works which require to be done, but it would be unfair for me to start reading out in this House a long list of places where nails were not put in, and so on.
The tenants would appreciate it.
Order. That is not a question. Question No. 17.
I have no doubt who is responsible. The people who authorised the building of those houses are responsible.
That is not true.
Of course it is true.
Next question please.