Committee Reports > List of Committees > Dáil > 1963 > Committee of Public Accounts > Report - Appropriation Accounts 1961 - 1962

APPENDIX XXI.

COSTS OF ERECTION OF LAND COMMISSION HOUSES.

An Cléireach,

An Choiste um Chuntais Phoiblí,

During my examination before the Committee of Public Accounts on 28th February, 1963, I undertook to send you a note on the comparable cost of Land Commission houses erected by contract and direct labour.

When particular lands are being allocated by the Land Commission, all associated building works (including new and reconstructed houses, out-offices etc.) are aggregated into suitable lots for contract or direct labour, according to circumstances, including availability of contractors, skilled tradesmen and urgency of the buildings. Each contract or direct labour lot would normally include a grouping of some few different plans of houses and out-offices, for practical and aesthetic reasons.

The official accounts are kept by reference to the associated groups of buildings on particular estates. Segregated figures are not generally available for individual houses.

The following averages have been calculated from work study and contract data in respect of three-bedroom houses (plan 2/55) completed during 1961/62 on standard holdings:—

In handling these averages, it has to be kept in mind that they are not quite parallel. Wherever there is keen tendering by reliable contractors, it is the policy to have the buildings erected by contract. In practice, contractors are selective according to situation and general convenience of sites. This makes for a predominance of lower cost items in the contract sector, giving an advantage to the contract average. On the other hand, the direct labour average is derived from the residual, more difficult, category.

These averages are drawn from individual contract figures ranging from £1,021 to £1,500 compared with direct-labour figures ranging from £1,255 to £1,490. The contract span (£479) is twice as wide as the direct-labour span (£235) confirming the big disparity in contract prices between different contractors and localities.

To synchronise the installation of new occupiers with the interests of timely farming operations, it is important that new buildings be completed at the proper time. Contractors’ progress is less amenable to control than direct labour which, frequently, is the only method by which particular buildings can be erected expeditiously.

For some months past, the direct labour building techniques have been under examination by a firm of consultants, with a view to increasing productivity, through incentive bonus, etc.

Department of Lands.

22 Aibreán, 1963.