asked the Minister for the Environment if he is satisfied that the ownership of land by Dublin Corporation within the Dublin city boundary of approximately 70 acres in total for housing purposes is adequate to meet future demand; and, if not, the plans he has with respect to helping Dublin Corporation to fulfil the expected needs.

According to the latest progress report submitted to me, Dublin Corporation have acquired, or have available, sites for 15,756 dwellings, including 2,420 within the Dublin city boundary. In common with other housing authorities, they have been authorised to acquire land which is needed for their on-going housing construction programme by way of overdraft or temporary borrowing, and to recoup the cost, including appropriate holding charges, in the normal way from their capital allocation as part of the cost of their new housing schemes.

It is a matter for the corporation themselves to decide the extent of such acquisitions within the city boundaries, or elsewhere, having regard to the requirements of their housing construction programme. The corporation adopted this programme, which includes their central city redevelopment programme, having regard to their accumulated housing needs and anticipated future demand. I am satisfied that the corporation are competent to make the necessary decisions and take any necessary action within available capital resources, which this year represent an increase of about 9 per cent on the generally acknowledged generous level of their 1977 capital allocation. I am also hopeful that their housing problem will be substantially eased by the current upsurge in new building and reconstruction in the private sector which has been stimulated by the increased financial aids provided by the Government.

May I ask the Minister if he sees the difficulty the local authority are in in having a relatively small land bank within the city boundary and if, therefore, he accepts the inevitability of a great number of families having to leave the city to take up residence well outside the city boundary in view of the five-and-a-half thousand people presently on the waiting list.

I am aware that this is happening and that the corporation are building houses outside their area. Any worth-while proposals that the corporation put forward will be considered by me, as I recently informed a deputation from the corporation.

Am I to take it that if there is a request for finance to acquire more land or a request to review the compulsory purchase order legislation to ensure that the corporation can get land more rapidly, the Minister will be sympathetic to both requests?

The corporation have the statutory right to apply a CPO to any property. With regard to the purchase of sites, the corporation have been informed that they can do so by way of overdraft, which can be recouped from me in due course when the proposal for the particular housing scheme is being considered.

Am I to take it that the Minister is reviewing CPO legislation with a view to tightening it?

In answer to an earlier question I said that we were examining it.