Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 9 Nov 1993

Vol. 435 No. 6

Ceisteanna — Questions Written Answers. - Louth Housing Schemes.

Michael Bell

Ceist:

48 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for the Environment the number of new houses in each category applied for by Drogheda Corporation, Louth County Council and Dundalk UDC; the current value of each scheme; the approximate starting date and contract period of each scheme; his views on whether it has taken a lengthy period to commence this scheme; and, if so, the reason for the delay, in view of the large number of applicants on the respective housing lists.

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment (Mr. Stagg)

I take it that the question relates to housing schemes included by the local authorities in question under their 1993 housing programmes. On this basis, the following tabular statement sets out the position:

Local Authority	Name of Scheme	Number of Houses	Approved all-in cost	Contract Period
Louth County Council	Clermont Park Haynestown	8	£259,537	32 Weeks
	Townparks Ardee	16	£669,856	52 Weeks
Dundalk Urban District Council	Hydepark	40	In excess of £1.6m (further details of costings awaited from Council)	70 Weeks
Drogheda Corporation	Marley Court Phase 2	22	£893,881	40 Weeks
	St. Laurence's Park Phase 2	14	£531,136	30 Weeks

When a tender for a scheme has been accepted by a local authority, either with the specific or devolved approval of the Department, it is then a matter for the authority to arrange with the contractor concerned for the starting of the scheme.

Accordingly, information on the starting date for individual schemes is not available in the Department. In so far as my Department was concerned, there was no undue delay in clearing any of the proposals.

In addition to the schemes set out in the table, Louth County Council proposes under its 1993 programme to acquire four houses and construct two single rural houses, and Drogheda Corporation proposes to acquire four houses. The acquisition of houses, new or previously occupied, within the authority's approved programme of "starts" does not require prior departmental approval. Similarly, the provision of single rural houses within an authority's approved programme of "starts" does not require prior approval provided the cost of any such houses does not exceed the unit cost approved by the Department for the authority for the type of house in question.