Housing waiting lists and 1990 building
Spring asked what could be done for people facing long waits; Flynn said preliminary assessments suggested fewer applicants than 30,000, though returns from about 20 authorities, including Kerry, were missing. He cited €33 million for construction in 1990 and expected 1,200 houses to start, with Dublin receiving its fair share.
I am not going to take you to Tralee; I am going to ask question which I hope is relevant to Question No. 5, and I am asking it out of concern for the 30,000 people now on waiting lists for local authority housing. I understand from the Minister's statement that they are now being faced with a waiting time of between five and seven years. Has the Minister anything to offer to those people in view of, by his own admission, his failure to build more than 300 houses, 600 fewer than was hoped? What hope can he give those people now for housing within a reasonable time?
Comment on this
It is a fair question. The preliminary indications from the housing needs assessment indicate a much lower figure than the 30,000 suggested by the Deputy. I cannot disagree wholly with him because the returns——
Comment on this
No, unfortunately, and they have been reminded on several occasions. A considerable extra amount of money is being made available for housing in 1990. Some £33 million will be available for the housing construction programme in that year.
