Vol. 435 No. 11
69 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the extent of the housing problem in Mallow town, County Cork; the proposals, if any, he has to deal with this; if he has received a request to meet a deputation from Mallow Urban District Council to discuss the matter; and if so, if he will agree to meet them.
I am aware of the number of households accepted by Mallow UDC for inclusion in their assessment of needs carried out under section 9 of the Housing Act, 1988 at 31 March, 1993. The Government's plans for responding to housing needs are set out in the Programme for a Partnership Government which states clearly that the aim of the Government's policies will be to reduce pressure on local authority waiting lists to the greatest extent possible. In 1993, ten new local authority house "starts" were authorised for Mallow UDC. These will become available for letting in 1994 and will be complemented by output under the various other social housing schemes. The Minister has recently indicated, in response to a request to him to receive a deputation from Mallow UDC, that he will be prepared to meet the council to discuss local authority matters generally (including housing) when his duties take him to the Mallow area.
