Seanad Éireann - Volume 13 - 19 June, 1930Public Business. - Housing Bill, 1930.—Second Stage (Resumed).
Question again proposed: That this Bill be read a Second Time.
Mr.ConnollyMr.Connolly
Mr. Connolly:
In the arguments put forward last evening by SenatorJohnson in criticism of the apparent attitude of the Minister to movegradually in his policy of meeting the housing shortage in the FreeState, he gave us some very interesting figures and some veryinteresting economic data. It seems to be that year after year we willhave extension measures like this coming on, and that may continueindefinitely. On the basis of the production of houses, Senator Johnsonargued that if we were to double the number of houses we are erectingat present it would take us twelve years to meet Dublin's needs, andthat apart from making good the wastage due to decay. That means, sofar as the City of Dublin is concerned, that, in the matter of the erectionof houses, if the present rate of building only is maintained, we will nothave the number of houses admitted necessary by the Minister'sDepartment for 24 or 25 years. In reviewing this whole housingbusiness we have had put before us three different points of view. Wehad the point of view of the Minister, who is, no doubt, extremelyanxious to have this problem solved. We had the point of view of Senator Johnson, who is equally anxious to have the problem solved,and we also had the point of view of Senator Sir John Keane, who, inspite of his plea for an economic rent, is, I am quite satisfied, alsoanxious to have this housing problem solved. I want it to be understoodthat when dealing with this I am not trying to make any debatingpoints, nor am I trying to score any Party advantage whatever.
1656
I could not help being intrigued somewhat when I realised that the
[1656]
Minister had to come to us with this extension Bill. The fact thathe has to bring such a measure before us is an admission that due toforces over which he has no control, he is likely to have to go on doingso for the next 24 or 25 years, without even making allowance for thedecay in property or what might be a possible increase of the populationin Dublin which would lead to a demand for more houses. As I have saidI was intrigued, and for one reason, mainly, that it so happened withinthe last fortnight the Minister in charge of this Bill, deputising for theMinister for Finance, came to this House and questioned somearguments which I made with regard to the cost of money and theprevailing system of financial control. In my arguments on thatoccasion, I specifically and deliberately made it clear that the wholeeconomic future of this country, all the social services of this country,the lives and well-being of the people are entirely and completelyinvolved in the one great fundamental problem, namely, the control of money. I would suggest to the Minister that if he analyses carefully, andI have no doubt he will, the different factors that make it necessary forhim to come here year after year with these extension Bills he willrealise that with the difficulties under which he and his Departmentlabour it is going to be quite impossible for him to finance or to carryout building on anything like the scale commensurate with the needwhich he admits exists in his own reports. Let us look at the problem asit is. In this country we have workers idle in most industries and in mostbranches of employment. They receive unemployment benefit as long asthey are in benefit, but they are a charge on the State in one form oranother. They are an uneconomic and a losing holding for the Statewhen they are unemployed. As regards building, most of the materialsrequired are available.
1657
Leave a Comment