asked the Minister for Local Government if he has yet received the report from Dublin Corporation referred to in a reply of 2nd June, relating to the demolition of dangerous buildings in the Dublin Corporation area where elderly people who run small shops for their livelihood are being dispossessed without compensation; and, if so, what action he proposes to take thereon.

I have received the report. I have tabled an amendment to the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Bill, 1964, by which sanitary authorities will be empowered to pay grants in cases of hardship to persons who have been carrying on a trade or business in a dangerous structure and who are required by the authority to leave such structure.

Would it not be more appropriate for the Minister to include not only a permissive provision but an obligatory provision so that local authorities shall provide this compensation?

That can be brought up on the Bill.

It will.

Is the Minister not aware that amendments which sought to make it obligatory have been ruled out of order—so that it cannot be brought up on the Bill.

I did not think there were so many obligatory people over there.

The Minister does not know us. Perhaps he will get to know us over the years.

22.

asked the Minister for Local Government the number of dwellings in Dublin city condemned as dangerous for each of the past twenty years.

The information is not available in my Department. I have asked Dublin Corporation to furnish the required details from their records and I will forward the information to the Deputy as soon as possible.

23.

asked the Minister for Local Government the number of dwellings in Dublin city which are over one hundred years old.

According to the preliminary results of the 1961 National Census relating to Housing and Social Amenities there were at the date of the census 22,204 private dwellings in Dublin county borough which were built prior to 1860. A private dwelling is defined for census purposes as the room or set of rooms occupied by a private household.