Committee Reports > List of Committees > Joint > 1980 > Committee on Commercial State-Sponsored Bodies > Report No. 12 - National Building Agency, Limited

APPENDIX 30

LETTER TO CLERK TO JOINT COMMITTEE FROM THE CONFEDERATION OF IRISH INDUSTRY

I refer to your newspaper advertisement of 20th July 1979 in which you invited submissions in relation to a number of State-Sponsored bodies including the National Building Agency Limited.

The Confederation wishes to make the undermentioned points in relation to the National Building Agency Limited.

(1) The Confederation notes that when the National Building Agency was established in 1960 the primary function was to ensure that appropriate housing was available to personnel recruited in centres for industrial development; and to act as agents for Departments of State in meeting the housing needs of employees. The Confederation is firmly of the opinion that a need still exists to ensure that appropriate housing is available in centres for industrial development, and the Confederation is of the opinion that the most urgent need exists in relation to housing for technicians and middle-management personnel.

(2) The Confederation also notes that with the completion in the recent past of the 24 house scheme at Ballybaan, Galway, the programme of direct housebuilding by the Agency has come to an end at least for the time being. The Confederation welcomes the alternative now being pursued, i.e. the position whereby the Industrial Development Authority proposes to make loans available, through the National Building Agency, to enable qualified industrial personnel to purchase houses.

(3) The Confederation in concerned that developed sites may not be available in certain centres for industrial development and the Confederation recommends that the Industrial Development Authority should, where appropriate, purchase land in advance for use for housing development in addition to and as part of the overall package for industrial development. The Confederation is of the opinion that the legal, architectural, and surveying expertise of the National Building Agency could be of value in relation to such land acquisition.

(4) It has been brought to the attention of the Confederation by member firms that in some instances the recruitment of skilled key personnel has been hindered because of the high cost of house acquisition. It is realised by the Confederation that this is a problem which has far wider connotations than the operation of the National Building Agency and of the Industrial Development Authority, but the Confederation nevertheless is of the opinion that the overall problems related to the housing of industrial personnel at all levels should be the subject of study by all relevant agencies of the State, including the National Building Agency.

(5) In summary, the Confederation is of the opinion that the National Building Agency should concentrate upon using the legal, architectural, surveying, and mortgage administration expertise of the staff as a help agency in the acquisition of land and the financing of house purchase where appropriate, but the actual house construction should be undertaken primarily by private enterprise building firms and by the Local Authorities.

Director of Economic Policy.

11th September 1979