Vol. 477 No. 5
5 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the hazardous condition of chimneys in the Cranmore Estate in County Sligo; and the plans, if any, he has to resolve the issues involved in view of the protracted involvement of the local authority and the National Building Agency and the continuing dissatisfaction of the residents with the works carried out by these bodies to date. [9946/97]
In order to assist Sligo Corporation carry out remedial works to chimneys on this estate, £800,000 has so far been allocated to it under the remedial works scheme and £650,000 of this has been paid. It is now entirely a matter for Sligo Corporation to complete the work to these houses satisfactorily.
I thank the Minister of State for her reply. Is she satisfied the £800,000 allocated will pay for the completion of the job on the houses in the estate? The Minister of State will be aware there have been serious complaints in relation to the chimneys in the past. A number of attempts have been made to rectify the problem. Despite money being spent most people consider the houses to be a health and fire hazard and that earlier remedial works were ineffective. Is she satisfied the work being carried out will solve the problem or is it of a more fundamental and basic nature?
I understand Sligo Corporation and the National Building Agency are satisfied with the integrity of the work and the residents have expressed satisfaction in this regard. There may be a small number of complaints. With this type of work there may be items that need to be addressed in the way a builder would deal with a snag list. I am satisfied the work being carried out is meeting the need it was designed to address. I assure the Deputy there is no problem in relation to any outstanding payment. The £800,000 is ear-marked, the vast bulk of which has already been spent. My understanding is that there is general satisfaction with the work. Because remedial works of this kind are trying to put right a problem sometimes people would prefer to have the whole project started again from scratch. A remedial works scheme is literally remedial works. I am happy that the work is satisfactory and if there are outstanding matters of detail Sligo Corporation is the local authority with responsibility for dealing with them.
I accept what the Minister of State has said. She will be aware of the history of this estate in which Sligo Corporation and the NBA were involved. The Minister of State will be aware also that in 1993-4 a number of chimneys were rebuilt on the instructions of the Department of the Environment and that some of the residents are unhappy with the standard of work. I am concerned the £800,000 would be spent and that the work would still not be completed satisfactorily. Will the Minister of State reassure all concerned and undertake to have an independent assessment of the work carried out? From my knowledge and having met with the residents of the estate they have little confidence in either Sligo Corporation or the National Building Agency and it is difficult to blame them. In the interest of ensuring value for money will the Minister of State undertake an independent assessment of the work when completed to ensure its safety for health purposes as a number of people suffer from respiratory problems due to smoke in the houses?
Let us not forget the time factor in dealing with these questions. We are dwelling overlong on this question to the detriment of the other questions.
Will the Minister of State consider undertaking an independent assessment of the work?
The Deputy has made his point adequately.
I am satisfied that the work is being carried out in accordance with the needs of the residents. I do not think it would be necessary to have an independent assessment carried out. If the Deputy has particular points he wishes to raise with me I will be happy to follow them up. I hope that will satisfy him.
