asked the Minister for the Environment the Government's attitude towards the compulsory migration of families out of cities to the new estates on the perimeters of cities and towns; and the long-term social and environmental implications of this trend.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Family Migration.
25.
The Deputy will be aware that there is no practical alternative to the building of new housing estates on the perimeters of cities and towns to cater for the demand for new housing in these areas. Only a proportion of housing needs can be met by redevelopment within existing urban centres. I have every confidence that planning authorities generally have full regard in the discharge of their statutory functions to the long-term social and environmental implications of the building of new towns and estate on the perimeters of existing built-up areas.
The question is whether the Government have a view about the population and the inner city area and whether the Minister would agree that this is a trend at present which is causing serious problems on the perimeter of cities in the so-called new towns which are totally unsuited to the needs of young families. There are many questions one could ask but I should like to know what the Minister thinks about the problem. Finally, does the consider that a little more could be done about acquiring land in the city for the building of houses and if his Department are willing to sanction local authorities doing this? There are three parts to the question and I should like the Minister to deal with them.
Taking the last part first, I presume the Deputy is a member of the corporation and it is up to them to see what land is available, to acquire it and so on. If it means loans I have to sanction them but the corporation are the people who know where land is available in their own area. As regards the inner city, I do not know how much land is available— I have no question down about that—but I would hope that the increased reconstruction grants would help some people to reconstruct houses that may not be very suitable at present. In time I would hope that, after examination and having had a serious look at the inner city situation, there might be something we could do to improve the position; I would expect so.
Is it still the case, as the Minister indicated to me some time before Christmas, that the Minister's Department have not undertaken and do not propose to undertake any social study of the implications of the drift out of the city at present?
My Department are quite conscious of this drift and are having——
I want to know if you are having a scientific survey or study?
No. There is no scientific study going on just now.
Will you undertake one?
The Deputy may not continue to ask questions while sitting.
If I heard correctly, the Minister said there was no practical alternative to suburban expansion.
Yes.
Would the Minister not consider that there is the very definite alternative of reviewing the density proposals coming before this Department for sanction under the local development plan? Does he consider that part of the problem referred to in Deputy Keating's question relates to the fact that local authorities and private developers are obliged to build at very low densities thus extending the outer suburbs and in view of that would he not consider that there is a practical alternative and that the advice contained in his brief is not factual and scientific?
I am calling the next question.
That is disgraceful.