asked the Minister for the Environment when he intends to make funds available to Drogheda Corporation for the repair of the low cost housing scheme at Saint Finian's Park.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Drogheda Housing Scheme.
14.
Drogheda Corporation are carrying out an experimental programme of work on defective exterior panelling in a number of houses in St. Finian's Park with a view to determining a satisfactory method of replacement of these panels and the probable cost. As arbitration proceedings between the corporation and the contractor are still pending, the amount of the funds that can be made available by me for remedial works on the houses arising under the contract cannot be determined until the proceedings are completed. Nevertheless, the experimental work now being carried out, with the agreement of my Department, is envisaged as the first phase of a longer term programme of such remedial works. In the meantime and, under existing arrangements, the corporation may finance the cost of normal maintenance of the houses in the estate from rental income and from a percentage of the proceeds of the sales of their houses.
Can the Minister say when the scheme was approved by the Department of Local Government and when it was built?
The scheme was fully tenanted by October 1972. We can assume that approval was given some time before then.
Will the Minister ensure that the Customs House learn their lessons from that episode of Fianna Fáil's chief house-building programme and that we will not have to live through a repeat performance?
My Department are learning all the time. Each scheme is an improvement on the previous one.