asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the serious situation which exists at Coxe's Demesne, Dundalk, County Louth regarding the reconstruction and replacement of the front and rear walls of 250 houses; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that only nine have been completed and twenty others are in progress; the plans his Department has to speed up this work; the allocation which will be made in 1988 for further work; the period over which he expects that the estate will be completed; the cost per house; whether block or brick would be a more permanent and better job as per the scheme at St. Finian's Park, Drogheda, County Louth which is similar in construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - County Louth Estate Completion.
I am aware of the problems affecting the houses at Cox's Demesne, Dundalk. The refurbishment of the houses is the responsibility of the urban district council using funds provided under the Department's remedial works scheme. A decision in regard to works to further houses in the estate will be made following an evaluation of the technical and cost results which will be submitted by the council on completion of the 20-house phase. The current unit cost is £5,388.37.
Because of the ground conditions in the estate, the council did not consider it feasible to replace the panels with conventional construction. The timescale for completion of refurbishment work to the estate will be dependent on the capital provided in the annual public capital programme and the demands of other authorities for assistance under the remedial works scheme. I hope to be able to notify the allocations for 1988 to housing authorities in the near future.