asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he is aware that a special and urgent housing problem exists for small landholders, whose poor law valuation averages about £15 and under, by reason of the fact that they are hardly considered eligible as applicants for cottages erected by the local authority, and whether, having regard to the fact that such persons are not in a position to erect houses with the assistance of grants provided under the existing housing Acts, he will take steps to introduce legislation to meet such cases.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Houses for Small Landholders.
A generous measure of State assistance has been available to farmers for the improvement of their dwellings in recent years and widespread improvements in housing have taken place. I cannot, therefore, accept the view that any urgent housing problem still exists for small landholders. Under the various housing Acts passed since 1932, grants from £70 to £80 have been obtainable by small farmers, with holdings not exceeding £15 valuation, for the building of houses for their own occupation, while grants from £60 to £70 have been available to farmers, with holdings of a valuation between £15 and £25. There were 9,703 houses erected by farmers with holdings under £15 valuation and the total amount of grants paid was approximately £760,000. Of that number 2,726 were built during the past five years, and applications for housing grants are still being received in my Department. There were also 2,139 houses erected by farmers with holdings between £15 and £25 and in these cases the grants paid amounted to approximately £145,000.
In addition, 27,496 houses have been reconstructed since 1932 by farmers with a valuation under £25, and grants amounting to approximately £1,000,000 were allocated for the purpose. Assistance towards the building of houses by farmers has also been afforded through the Land Commission and the Gaeltacht Services Division of the Department of Lands.