asked the Minister for the Environment if he will instruct the city manager for Limerick Corporation to arrange an immediate investigation of the electrical wiring and fittings arising out of the recent fires in the housing schemes at Ballynanty Beg, St. Mary's Park, Kileely, Prospect, Ballinacurra Weston.

The maintenance and management of local authority rented dwellings is the responsibility of the authority. I have no evidence to support the Deputy's suggestion that the recent fires in the schemes mentioned in his question were caused by electrical wiring faults. I understand that the city engineer is conducting an investigation into the causes of these fires which occurred in the corporation's housing estates. I may add that in the course of normal maintenance work, by the corporation, electrical wiring is inspected and replaced where necessary.

Is the Minister aware that I am referring to houses built in the 1930's at which time they probably would have been accepted as being up to standard. I am talking about houses where fires have been occurring because of obsolete wiring. Is the Minister not prepared to accept responsibility to ensure that all residents of local authority houses are guaranteed maximum safety. I am informing the Minister here that people living in the houses referred to in the question are virtually sitting on a time bomb. Indeed the local ESB have refused to connect lights in some of these houses because of their obsolete and inadequate wiring system. I mean that, they are virtually sitting on a time bomb and there could be a holocaust in Limerick city if what I request is not done soon.

There is no evidence to show that such fires were caused by electrical faults. There is no evidence available to support that assumption. The city engineer is conducting an investigation into the causes of the fires which occurred this year at the request of the corporation's housing department. So far in 1980, ten have occurred in a corporation housing estate. I have no evidence that the fault was an electrical one, and no evidence has come to my Department, but if the Deputy can give me evidence I will have it followed up.

I am not qualified to give evidence but I will refer it to the ESB who will tell the Minister it is because of poor wiring. Many people could perish in these housing schemes because of this danger.

I will have it investigated anyway.

15.