asked the Minister for the Environment the number of new dwellings constructed by Galway County Council in the Galway Gaeltacht area in each year since 1965.
2.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Galway Gaeltacht Housing.
1.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he will give details of surveys of housing conditions in Connemara carried out by his Department since 1965.
3.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware of the deplorable housing conditions of large numbers of people in Connemara, County Galway; and if he has any special proposals to bring about an early improvement in conditions.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1, 2 and 3 together.
The information sought by the Deputy as to the number of new dwellings constructed by Galway County Council in the Galway Gaeltacht each year since 1965 is not available in my Department. However, I understand from Galway County Council that the following numbers of dwellings were provided in Gaeltacht areas in the county in the past four years:
|
Rural Houses |
Demountable Dwellings |
|
|
1980 |
23 |
70 |
|
1981 |
39 |
14 |
|
1982 |
45 |
5 |
|
1983 |
37 |
6 |
Surveys of housing conditions, the assessment of the adequacy of the supply of housing and of the prospective future demand for housing, and the adoption of a building programme having regard to housing needs are matters for each housing authority. My Department have not, therefore, carried out any surveys of housing conditions in Connemara. The preparation of proposals with regard to housing in Connemara is also a matter for Galway County Council.
Will the Minister say if reports on surveys carried out by local authorities — the Galway County Council in this case — into housing needs in their areas are conveyed to this Department? If that is the case, would the Minister not be in a position to know the housing conditions of people in the area in question?
It is the statutory duty of a housing authority to assess the housing needs in their functional area having regard to the capital available. Capital is allocated on the basis of claims from local authorities in respect of their existing commitments as at 1 January of each year and in respect of new works which it is hoped to commence during the year. A review of the capital position of all local authorities is being undertaken by my Department at the moment and the position of Galway County Council will be considered in conjunction with other local authorities.
The Minister did not answer the question. Are the results of surveys of housing needs in each local authority area conveyed to the Department?
I have told the Deputy what is conveyed in their demand for housing capital and how it is allocated. That is the information that is transmitted to my Department.
Is the Minister telling the House that the results of housing surveys carried out by local authorities are not conveyed to the Department and that, therefore, there is no way he would be in a position to know if housing conditions were satisfactory for a large section of the community? I find that difficult to accept.
The local authority indicates to my Department the capital required. In the light of the amount available for capital allocations, all local authorities are considered and the amount is equitably divided between each local authority.
Is the Minister aware that in the seventies officials from his Department carried out a survey of housing needs in this area and interviewed the applicants to establish for themselves what was the situation? It is only since then that any local authority houses have been constructed in that area.
A survey of national housing conditions based on samples of housing stock was carried out in 1973 and in 1980 on the initiative of the Department. The surveys were carried out primarily in the context of determining on a national basis the conditions and standards of housing stock.
Is the Minister prepared to accept from me that many families are residing in deplorable housing conditions in this area? If he accepts that, will he take some steps to enter into discussions with the local authority to ensure that a much greater house building programme will be entered into? As the Minister has indicated in the figures, only approximately 40 houses on average are provided each year and this is not adequate to meet the urgent needs of the many families and the elderly people who live in this area.
These figures are taken from the total number of houses provided by Galway County Council. I could give the Deputy details of the exact allocations that have been made to Galway but I think he wants this specific area looked at. I will have this done for him.
The Galway County Council housing programme is determined by the amount of capital allocated by the Minister. He has a vital role to play in the matter.
The capital is allocated to the county council and they allocate it having regard to the needs of their area.
Yes, but the Minister determines the amount they get.
Yes, I do.
Then the Minister should know more about the deplorable housing conditions of people in that area.
This is developing into an argument.
I am prepared to accept the Minister's offer to have his Department look into the matter.
It is up to the local representatives to indicate to me what is the situation.