asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether all the moneys provided under the Housing Acts, 1925 and 1928, have been allocated, and, if so, whether any more moneys will be made available for grants to individuals who are now building houses and individuals who intend to build this year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing Acts.
All the moneys have been allotted. The cases of private individuals who may now be building houses of the type which would be entitled to get grants under the 1925-28 Acts but who have not started building in time to be allotted a grant under the 1928 Act will be considered when further housing proposals are being put before the Oireachtas.
Mr. Crowley
Can the Minister say when the proposals will be laid before the Oireachtas?
I hope it will be possible soon to put them before the Oireachtas.
Is the Minister aware that as far back as the 5th July last the Minister for Finance said that he hoped the Housing Bill, which is now referred to, would be introduced last Autumn?
Is the Minister aware that building operations have been started in many cases on promises received from his Department that grants would be available and that these grants are now being with-held?
I am not aware that there is anybody in the position with regard to the building of a particular house at present that he can feel that he has been misled in any way by any statement made with regard to the matter, either by any member of the Executive Council or by the Department.
If such evidence is produced, will the Minister reconsider the whole matter?
Any house that has been begun since, say, June last has been begun in the light of very definite statements that houses begun after a certain period would not be eligible for the grants that were made available under the 1926 Act. In respect of the 1928 Act, before that Act was ever passed, and during the passing of it, there were very explicit statements made as to the amount of money that would be available under the Act, and as to the time inside which a house should be begun in order to be entitled to a grant under the Act. There are houses that perhaps can be regarded as having been begun before 1st April next, but the amount of money provided by the Oireachtás under the 1928 Act was provided on very definite statements and for a very definite amount.
May I ask the Minister if he is now satisfied that the Executive Council did not provide a sufficient amount of money to make effective the Act of 1928?
I do not know what the Deputy means by "making it effective."
Is it not stated in the 1928 Act that any person who may have begun to build a house before the 1st April next would be entitled to a grant, and that the Act from this onwards will be inoperative because the Executive Council did not provide enough money to give effect to it?
The Act was passed for the purpose of clearing up commitments arising out of the 1926 Act, and for no other purpose.
Why was it extended to a later date, then?
Is the Minister aware that quite a number of certificates were issued and lodged by the appointed officer in reference to housing schemes, and that owing to the shortage of funds it has been impossible for the Government to do their part and to issue the necessary grants in connection with those building schemes?
I am aware that probably there are cases in which provisional certificates were issued by the locally-appointed officers, but there is no case, and there can be no case, in which the Department accepted responsibility in connection with houses for which persons are now being refused grants.
Will the Minister give an intimation as to when precisely he intends to introduce legislation making provision for the erection of agricultural workers' cottages in rural areas?
That is a separate question.
Will the Minister answer the supplementary question I put, namely, if sufficient evidence is produced to his Department that building operations were begun after notification of such building was supplied to his Department, and that the application for the necessary grant was refused, will he now bring in the necessary supplementary estimate to make such amounts available?
I have no power under the Act to do so.
What about the promises of Deputy Rice?