I ask the Ceann Comhairle to give me time to make a very brief statement with regard to housing.
The Housing Problem: Statement by the Vice-President.
Before the Vice-President makes his statement I want it to be understood that he has asked permission to make a brief statement with regard to housing, and that, since there is no motion before the Dáil, no debate can follow on such statement.
Does that preclude questions being asked?
Questions may be asked within reasonable limits.
The Government have examined carefully the present position in regard to housing and are satisfied that increased State subsidies are necessary to enable the provision of all the houses needed and that increased grants are required to encourage private persons and public utility societies to join with local authorities in the provision of the houses.
It is the intention of the Government to make money available for and to subsidise building to the fullest extent necessary to enable the complete solution of the slums and general housing problems in the shortest possible period.
Legislation will be introduced without delay to enable the payment of substantially increased subsidies to local authorities for schemes under the Housing of the Working Classes (Ireland) Acts, 1890 to 1931, and the Labourers' (Ireland) Acts, 1883 to 1931 and it is hoped that in anticipation of this legislation local authorities will push on at once with substantial schemes so as to take advantage of the favourable building season. The increased subsidies for local authorities will be applied retrospectively to cover such schemes as may be proceeded with in anticipation of the proposed legislation.
As to private persons it is proposed to make State Grants of the following amounts available:—
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For new houses in urban areas |
£60 per house |
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For new houses in rural areas (a) for small farmers whose valua- tion does not exceed £15 |
£70 per house |
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(b) for small farmers whose valuation ex- ceeds £15 but does not exceed £25 |
£60 per house |
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(c) for all other persons |
£45 per house |
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For reconstructed houses in rural areas on holdings not exceeding £25 valuation |
£40 per house |
With a view to encouraging the formation in rural areas of public utility societies with the special object of advising and assisting small farmers in the building of houses it is proposed to increase the grants of £70 and £60 for small farmers to £80 and £70 respectively in cases where the houses are built through the medium of such societies. It is also proposed to make special grants available to public utility societies building houses for letting in urban areas.
To encourage private persons in urban areas to undertake work at once, the grant of £60, proposed to be made available, may be increased to £70 for completion of the houses before 1st April next. It is the intention to apply the new scale of grants for persons and public utility societies so that houses commenced on or after the 12th May, 1932, may qualify for them. Grants at the rate of £45 per house will be made available for persons who failed to complete the houses in time under the Housing Acts, 1929 and 1930, and for persons who began houses under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1931, before the 12th instant. Loans will be issued to local authorities in both urban and rural areas on the annuity system, and the State subsidies will take the form of substantial annual contributions towards loan charges. Loans will also be made available to private persons for the erection or purchase of houses for their own occupation under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts, 1899 to 1931, so that, with the aid of a grant and a loan, a private person with no capital may build a house for himself and have it at a reasonable annual cost.
In order to assist the development of industry in the production of native building materials, the payment of State grants and subsidies to persons, public utility societies and local authorities building houses will be conditional on the use, as far as possible, of certain native materials to be specified.
Has the Minister taken into consideration the proposal to facilitate occupiers in buying out labourers' cottages on the annuity system?
That matter has been under consideration for some time. I hope to be able to make an announcement regarding it at an early date.
Would the Minister state whether the word "house" in the proposals he has just mentioned would include a building consisting of a large number of four-room, or three-room, or two-room flats?
They will certainly be included in the grants to be made.
To the local councils?
Yes.
Can the Minister say when the necessary legislation will be placed before us, so that we may see the details of the scheme?
I hope to be able to do that without much delay. The reason I made this statement is that this is the building season and that every day on which building is not proceeding means a considerable loss. If there were delay in getting the Bill through the House, a very considerable part of the best building period of the year might be lost.
Will the Minister direct local councils, when getting certificates with regard to the advance of this money, to provide labourers' cottages, where necessary, as part of their schemes? Since 1906 no labourers' cottages have been built by local authorities.
In view of the fact that persons interested in the general scheme may not see the details for some time, I should like to ask the Minister if the restrictions with regard to size in respect of houses built by private persons or by public utility societies are to be removed. I should also like to know if, in the case of persons building private houses for themselves, they will receive a loan of the full all-in cost of the house under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Act. The Minister has not stated what exactly the amount of the subsidy to local authorities will be. I should like to know when local authorities will be informed of the amount, because that will have a certain bearing on the question of urgency in approaching the schemes.
Under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Act, 90 per cent. of the cost of building can be advanced to private persons. The restrictions on the size of houses to which the Deputy referred are not being withdrawn. Every encouragement will be given to local authorities to build labourers' cottages. I think most Deputies are aware that there are plots already in the possession of local authorities to the number of about 10,000. Every encouragement, by way of grants and other facilities, will be given to local authorities to build labourers' cottages, and the Department will urge them to do so.
Will any relief be forthcoming to local authorities which started to build houses under the Miscellaneous Provisions Act prior to 12th May?
If the Deputy or any other Deputy brings to my notice a case of hardship, it will receive very sympathetic consideration.
Arising out of the question regarding advances under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Act, will these loans be on a value up to £1,200 or £800, as under the old Act?
I think £1,000 is the figure.
I should like to know from the Minister if the preference with regard to the use of local materials will apply to local bricks, instead of imported cement?
Personally, I should like to do everything possible to encourage building in brick instead of in cement.
How far will the preference be carried in that direction?
That I cannot definitely say.
The Minister must be aware of the price which has had to be paid for sites by public utility societies and private individuals. In some cases potential building ground has been acquired at very uneconomic prices. Does the present Government propose to take any steps to secure that no more than economic prices will be paid for sites for building? A very prohibitive price has been put on potential building ground and very high prices have had to be paid recently by public utility societies and by private individuals.
All these schemes are subject to the approval of the Minister. Every scheme will be examined. If it were apparent to the Department that an exorbitant price had been paid in view of all the circumstances, I doubt that the scheme would receive approval.
Will the Minister consider the cases where houses could be erected if sewerage were available? That case was not definitely mentioned in the Minister's statement.
Many things were not definitely mentioned in my statement. That is only one of them. I know a case in the Deputy's constituency where there are building sites available, but where the usual public utility amenities are not available. The Department is doing all it can do, and will continue to do so in any case brought to its notice, to have sewers and water supply provided, so that building will be facilitated.
Can the Minister give any indication as to when the details will be made known to the local authorities, because in the event of a contribution being required by the local authority, they would like to have some idea of what their commitment would be. That would govern, to a large extent, the number of houses they would be prepared to build.
Could the Minister say from what date these grants will operate? Will they be retrospective?
I stated the 12th May.
Is it the Minister's intention to introduce a Town Planning Bill, approximately at the same time as he embarks on this new project?
That is another question.
It hardly arises on this statement.
I can tell the Deputy that I have been doing everything possible to get the Town Planning Bill that has been, for some time—I do not know how long—on the stocks in the Department, drafted and completed, so that it might be introduced, simultaneously with the Housing Bill, but I understand that that is not possible.
Can the Minister give us any indication at present as to where he proposes to get the money?
He will get it through thrift, and in another quarter.
Has Deputy Thrift not yet read the Budget?
I think the House will be satisfied with the statement made by the Vice-President, particularly with regard to the extension of the labourers' cottages scheme, which was interrupted at the beginning of the Great War. I would ask the Vice-President if he would take steps immediately to circulate the statement to the local authorities. That would be the best way of giving the matter publicity and allowing them to take advantage, as soon as possible, of the scheme or schemes he has inaugurated.
I think our friends the Press will see to it that it is widely circulated and gets good publicity.
Will the Vice-President give me an answer to my question?
Of necessity, the statement made by the Vice-President is rather lacking in detail, and in view of the very big amount of money involved, and the rather responsible position in which people, when embarking on housing schemes, will feel themselves, I would urge that, apart from the fact that there may be delay in passing the measure through the House, by reason of pressure of business, the introduction of the measure should take place at the earliest possible moment. If the actual printing of the measure would involve, say, even a week's unnecessary delay, perhaps the Minister would consider, although it would be unusual, the issuing of a White Paper setting out in definite detail the financial and other provisions of the measure?
I asked the Vice-President a question a few minutes ago, as to whether we could get any indication for local authorities, as to what the full extent of the financial provisions of the Bill is. I would like the Minister to answer that question.
The Deputy must await the introduction of the Bill.
Would the Minister state whether people who wish to take advantage of the season, and anticipate the Bill, could start building now and get the grants?
Certainly.
That could be done?
Yes. The purpose of this statement is to encourage them to do so.
The Minister, apparently, misunderstood my question. I did not ask for details of the Bill, but for an indication of when we could have them.
Would the Minister tell us what will be the position of a board of health that has already embarked on a few labourers' cottages schemes, but which has not yet started building? How do they stand with regard to the grant?
If Deputy Myles will let us have details, we will see that they will get the most favoured treatment possible.
We do not want any favoured treatment. We want the same as anybody else.
I assure the Deputy that we want all the favoured treatment we can get.