asked the Minister for Local Government if he will consider taking steps at an early date to summon a conference of the building trades unions and representatives of the industry generally for the purpose of discussing the feasibility of erecting pre-fabricated houses as an emergency step to meet the mounting housing crisis.

The Director of Housing for the Dublin area, in consultation with the Housing Consultative Council, is investigating the possibilities of prefabrication as a means of meeting some part of the housing deficiency. I would prefer to await the result of this investigation which, I understand, will be available shortly, before considering any further steps in the matter.