asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state what steps he is going to take to meet the situation created by the expiration of the present Housing Act on the 31st March, 1931; if he will state also what steps he is going to take to meet the many applications made by people who intend building for grants under the present Housing Act and whose claims have not yet been dealt with, and if he will state whether he intends extending the time allowed for application beyond the 31st March, 1931.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing Act Extension.
As intimated in a previous reply, a further Housing Bill has been in course of preparation. Having regard to the important considerations now arising as to the financing of local authorities, I cannot undertake that it will be introduced as soon as had previously been expected. Persons interested in building under the present Housing Act have been aware that in order to qualify for a grant under that Act building must be commenced before the 1st April, 1931.
Will the Minister undertake that in cases where applications for the grant have been made, and where these applications have been held up through no fault of the applicants, he will not invalidate their claims at a later period? The reason I ask that supplementary question is that to-day I received a letter, dated 25th March, setting out that an applicant applied for a site to the City Commissioner in Cork and he was granted a site. It was only yesterday the Minister's sanction was received. It leaves very little time for the applicant to get the foundations laid and to get the engineer's certificate so as to qualify for the grant. What does the Minister propose to do under these circumstances?
At present I am restricted by the statute. The statute sets out that the building must have been commenced before 1st April.
Perhaps the Minister would interpret for us what is meant by the word "commence." Does it mean if the foundations are begun and the building materials are on the ground?
A very reasonable interpretation is placed upon the words "building having been commenced." If the foundations of a house are dug the building has been commenced.