asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he is aware that the rents of 24 Sligo Corporation dwellings erected at Cleveragh and Ballytivnan, Sligo, in accordance with the Department's scheme dated 22nd March, 1922, are so high, in consequence of the short period fixed for the repayment of loan, that the tenants find it impossible to pay these rents, and have petitioned the Corporation to have same reduced to a reasonable figure, and whether the Minister is prepared to enter into negotiations with the bank, or banks, to extend the period of repayment of loan from 15 to 30 years, and so enable the Corporation, while adding no additional burden to the rates, to reduce the rents in accordance with the wishes of the tenants.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - SLIGO CORPORATION DWELLINGS.
The loan repayment period of 15 years at 4½ per cent. represents the special concession given by the banks in 1922 as a result of representations made by the President to the Standing Committee of the Irish Banks. The banks are unwilling to consider any further long term credits. I will look specially into the finances of this Sligo housing scheme and the relation of the existing rents to other factors.