asked the Minister for the Environment if he will outline his policy regarding the funding of new inner city local authority housing schemes.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Inner City Local Authority Housing Schemes.
14.
Within the overall Public Capital Programme provision, capital allocations are made annually to individual housing authorities in respect of their construction programmes on the basis of their estimates of commitments on housing schemes already completed or in progress and of expenditure on schemes which they hope to commence during the year to meet identified housing needs.
The planning and initiation of housing schemes is a matter for individual housing authorities having regard to the amount of capital available for their programmes and subject to compliance with the normal procedures governing the provision of local authority houses.
At present my Department are examining the capital allocation claims submitted by the various housing authorities for 1987. I shall be making allocations to the authorities as soon as possible.
In asking this question I am not endeavouring to apportion blame to the present Minister because the problem dates back to the period before he assumed office but is he aware — I am referring specifically to the inner city area — that no tender has been approved by his Department since he assumed office for inner city schemes, that no design lay-out plan for inner city schemes in Dublin has been approved by his Department since he assumed office despite the fact that there have been tenders for such schemes with his Department from Dublin Corporation since May 1986, that there have been lay-out plans for a total of some 300 inner city houses with his Department since August 1986 and that there does not appear to be any intention on the part of his Department to make any progress or to respond despite repeated letters and requests by Dublin Corporation? If the Minister is aware of this — I am aware that it dates back to the term of office of the previous Government——
The Deputy must conclude his question. He is becoming repetitive.
If the Minister is aware of this very serious backlog will he take appropriate action to ensure it is dealt with urgently?
Dublin Corporation did submit their claim in this regard in the required format on 7 April 1987. I understand that in July 1986 the previous Government requested them to carry out a review of their housebuilding programme requirements over the next three years. I am still awaiting that review. In particular, as far as the inner city schemes are concerned, a number are already under examination in the Department. I intend to communicate with the Dublin Corporation about those in the near future.
I should stress that I am talking specifically about inner city schemes. In view of the fact that proposals for these schemes have been with the Minister's Department since May 1986 would he ensure that they are approved urgently——
The Deputy is engaging in repetition.
Perhaps I might rephrase my question: does the Minister intend to give approval to the schemes that have been examined by his Department over the past 12 months? Does he intend to give Dublin Corporation approval in respect of those?
It would help greatly if Dublin Corporation submitted the three year programme requested of them, so that we could establish the corporation's housing needs over that period. I should prefer if they would conclude that business and send their submission to me. Then we would all be in a position to make a better judgment on their requirements. Perhaps the Deputy might use his influence in that regard.
While I fully appreciate that it is the responsibility of the Government and the Minister to make capital allocations to each housing authority, would the Minister agree that within reasonable limits it is the responsibility of the housing authorities in question to decide the location and nature of the housing they propose to build? Would the Minister give the House an assurance that it will not be the policy of his Department, during his term of office, to intervene in the method and selection of areas for rehousing by Dublin Corporation or, indeed, in the type of housing they choose to build on the grounds of cost? That is a function of the local authority concerned. Does he agree the overall capital allocation, and only that, is the function of the Department of the Environment?
In general I agree with the remarks made by the Deputy. It is for the corporation and the local authorities to establish where these houses might be best located. The view of the Department is also an essential ingredient in making the final decision in so far as expenditure is concerned. I think the Deputy will agree with me on that.
I am pleased to hear the Minister indicate in principle that policy approach. If that is the case, does the Minister not agree, from his present knowledge of the way in which some sections of the Department of the Environment may perhaps interpret Government policy, that they could be delaying unnecessarily tenders for various inner city housing proposals on the grounds of unit cost?
There is no undue delay in the Department in regard to schemes that are proposed by various local authorities. I suppose it would be reasonable for the Department to have a view on unit costing of housing ranging between £50,000 and £60,000 per house, which was the average unit cost last year. I expect that the Department, in their overall allocation, are concerned about escalating costs in so far as schemes are concerned. Apart from that, I expect the corporation and other authorities will have a major input as to the selection and type of sites. The Department, because of the cost factors, must have some input into that area also. I think that will be appreciated.
Will the Minister clarify the request made to Dublin Corporation for the three year plan he has described, when that request was made and what it entailed?
When Dublin Corporation were notified of their 1986 capital allocation to finance their commitments at that time, the Department, by letter dated 31 July 1986, requested them to carry out a review of their house building programme to determine the appropriate level of housing output required in the Dublin area to cater for the likely demand for the next three years. It is reasonable to expect that we should have that submission before final decisions are made.
Has there been any response from the corporation?
I want to dissuade Members from assuming they may debate all the problems of Dublin inner city at Question Time. That is simply not on.
Perhaps I can ask the Minister if there has been any response from the corporation in reply to that circular? Are the Minister and the Government committed to inner city house building, as previous Governments have been totally committed?
Yes, to the final part of the question. The answer to the first part of the question and to Deputy McCartan's question is that the corporation have indicated a number of schemes which they would like to commence in 1987. The three year programme is still awaited in the Department.
In view of what the Minister said and having regard to the joint housing conference which took place in Wexford some weeks ago, does the Minister now recognise that housing authorities have a dual role, that they not only provide housing but, in inner city areas throughout the country including the Minister's town of Castlebar, they have an urban renewal role also? Therefore, will the Minister take the necessary steps in his Department to ensure the evaluation of unit housing costs for houses located in such urban areas will include the urban renewal content as well as the overall traditional unit cost factor?
I accept that all local authorities should be involved in urban renewal. It is appropriate that that be considered in their development programmes. The subject matter of another question, which I will answer later, refers to the announcement made following the Government meeting on Sunday concerning the NBA's involvement in that. Perhaps when we come to that question we will elaborate on it further. It is a positive step forward.