To ask the Minister for Local Government if he will include in the Government's housing policy for the year 1923-24 a reasonable allowance to private builders willing to build houses for the citizens of Dublin; if he will revive the Small Dwelling Purchase Act and grant powers to Local Authorities to remit rates for a period of years on all new houses built for residential purposes; if he is aware that many private builders are prepared to immediately start building if sufficient encouragement is offered, and that there is at present a demand for thirty thousand cottages containing three, four, and five rooms; further, if he will take steps to smash the "ring" of builders' providers now charging excessive prices for materials required for building houses.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. - NECESSITY FOR HOUSES.
(for Minister for Local Government): The question of grants to private builders is under consideration in connection with the housing policy of the Government for 1923-24.
The provisions of the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts are still in force, but until Local Loans Fund issues are available it is not possible to grant loans to Local Authorities to enable them to make advances to tenant purchasers. Any application which a Local Authority may make for sanction to a loan, to be borrowed in the open market, for the purpose of making such advances, will be considered.
It is not deemed advisable to seek general powers for the remission, for a period of years, of rates upon all new houses to be built for residential purposes. No doubt private builders would be prepared to commence building with the aid of a Government grant if they considered the amount of the grant to be a sufficient inducement. The Government are aware that large numbers of small new dwellings are required, and that the main cause why they cannot be provided is that building costs, particularly as regards labour and materials, are grossly excessive, resulting in the cost of construction of houses in Ireland being nearly twice the cost of similar houses in England.
Mr. BYRNE
Will the Minister answer the last two lines of the question, "whether steps will be taken to smash the `ring' of builders' providers, now charging exclusive prices for materials required for building houses?"
I will make enquiries.