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Dáil Éireann - Volume 263 - 15 November, 1972 Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Minister for Housing. Mr. Begley Mr. Begley 1. Mr. Begley asked the Taoiseach if he will appoint a Minister for Housing. The Taoiseach Jack Lynch The Taoiseach: Housing is, at present, among the responsibilities of the Minister for Local Government. I do not propose to assign housing to a Minister as his single responsibility. Dr. O'Connell Dr. O'Connell Dr. O'Connell: Would the Taoiseach not think that greater priority should be given to housing in view of the fact that there is a considerable shortage in urban areas? The Taoiseach Jack Lynch 1637 The Taoiseach: The performance, especially over the past five years, could not have been bettered even if there were a special Minister for [1637] Housing. The estimated housing output in 1972-73 is 17,500, which is almost three times as much as it was ten years ago. At present the total capital output on housing is about £105 million of which the public capital programme provides £45 million. That is over twice as much as was provided five years ago. Dr. O'Connell Dr. O'Connell Dr. O'Connell: Would the Taoiseach not agree that the emphasis is on private housing rather than public authority housing? The Taoiseach Jack Lynch The Taoiseach: They are running reasonably well in parallel. Dr. O'Connell Dr. O'Connell Dr. O'Connell: I do not think so. If the Taoiseach looks at the figures I think he will find that they are not. Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick (Cavan) Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick (Cavan) Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick (Cavan): Surely the Taoiseach must realise that the amount of work which the Minister for Local Government is expected to do is far too much for one Minister. As an alternative, would the Taoiseach consider removing some of the duties from that Department which should never have been there, with special reference to planning appeals? If that were done it would relieve some of the congestion. The Taoiseach Jack Lynch The Taoiseach: I agree entirely with Deputy Fitzpatrick. The Bill is now in course of preparation and will be produced very shortly. May I say, for the Deputy's information, that the Government approved in full of its terms within the past two weeks? Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick (Cavan) Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick (Cavan) Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick (Cavan): I hope it will come before us because the Taoiseach has been telling me that for the past two years. The Taoiseach Jack Lynch The Taoiseach: I am giving the Deputy hot information. Mr. Cluskey Mr. Cluskey Mr. Cluskey: The Taoiseach mentioned a figure of 17,500 houses which are expected to be built. Could he tell us what the waiting list is in the country, even on the local authorities side of it? The Taoiseach Jack Lynch The Taoiseach: The Deputy should know that that is a very specific question of which I would require notice. Mr. Cluskey Mr. Cluskey 1638 Mr. Cluskey: Would the Taoiseach [1638] agree that in Dublin alone it is in the region of 10,000? The Taoiseach Jack Lynch The Taoiseach: I would not agree because this 10,000 has been bandied about by housing action committees for the past five years and in many cases it has been found to have no foundation. Mr. Cluskey Mr. Cluskey Mr. Cluskey: Would the Taoiseach not agree that the figure is in the region of 10,000? An Ceann Comhairle Cormac Breslin An Ceann Comhairle: That is a separate question. The Taoiseach Jack Lynch The Taoiseach: I do not know. Mr. Cluskey Mr. Cluskey Mr. Cluskey: The Taoiseach knows that it is not 10,000 apparently. Dáil Éireann 263 Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. Minister for Housing. Questions 19721115
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