asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state whether his sanction has been sought by the Dublin Corporation for the borrowing of £1,263,000; and if, before giving sanction for this borrowing, he will cause a memorandum to be circulated outlining the policy proposed to be followed by the Government in financing the housing operations of local authorities, and provide an opportunity for its discussion by the Dáil.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Future Housing Operations.
An application has been received from the Corporation of Dublin for sanction to the borrowing of the amount mentioned and it is at present being considered in my Department. The course suggested by the Deputy would tend to impede the completion of arrangements for carrying out a further section of the housing programme of the corporation. As regards the last part of the question, I think it will be fully covered by my reply to Deputy Cogan's question No. 43, which will be to the effect that the matter has been under consideration and an announcement will be made shortly.
asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state when he proposes to make a statement as to the conditions under which future housing operations may be undertaken by local authorities.
I would refer the Deputy to the statement which I made in the Dáil on the 29th May last that whatever the decision of the Government in relation to the matter of housing subsidies may be, it will be made retrospective to cover the present abnormal circumstances and that no local authority will eventually be the loser by anticipating that decision. A revision of housing subsidies will depend on the future level of building costs and that cannot at present be estimated, but local authorities should go ahead and prepare their plans now.
Are we to understand that the position is that the local authorities cannot know, in relation to any plans that they may go ahead with now, what subsidy will be given them by the State?
The position is that neither the Government nor the local authorities can estimate with any certainty what the probable future level of building costs will be and until we are able to make that estimate it will be, of course, futile to discuss the question of subsidies.
Can the Minister say when it will be possible to make that estimate?
As soon as the position in relation to supplies and other matters becomes clearer.
Has the Minister any idea, in terms of three months, six months, 18 months or two years, when we will reach that period?
I have not the gift of prescience and I cannot express any opinion in that respect.
May we assume that local authorities can go ahead with their plans and that they can safely envisage that the subsidies will be on a more favourable basis?
It is reasonable to assume that, as I indicated in June last, so far as there is any alteration either in the over-riding limit of cost or in the amount of subsidy, it will be retrospective to that date.
Will the Minister say if there will be a difference in the subsidy for replacements and for houses that are normal, additional houses?
I do not appreciate that point.
At present there is a subsidy given for a house which replaces an old building.
Does the Deputy mean slum clearance?
Yes.
There will be some differential.
May local authorities now assume that the old over-riding maximum of cost is virtually suspended and that they may safely increase the over-riding maximum and still have these houses qualifying for State aid? Should not the local authority get some guidance in that matter?
That is a very complex question and I suggest it should be a separate question.
If a separate question is put down, will the Minister be able to give guidance to local authorities along those lines?
The over-riding limit is not yet determined and I would not care to make any statement which would seem to cover houses at any price.
Devil a much the local authorities can do, so.
asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state what assistance by way of subsidy or otherwise it is intended to provide in future for houses built by private persons.
A Housing Bill will shortly be introduced providing for continuance for a further period of the provisions of the Housing (Financial and Miscellaneous Provisions) Acts, 1932 to 1944, which enable grants to be paid to private persons and public utility societies towards the cost of erecting new houses and reconstructing existing houses. It is not possible to indicate at this stage what assistance towards housing will be necessary when building supplies become generally available.
Does the Minister suggest that the grants made to private persons will be higher than the present grants?
I am not prepared to discuss, at this stage, the question of what grants will be given to private persons to induce them to build houses, particularly in view of the fact that supplies are definitely limited.
Can the Minister say when we may expect him to give the information in respect of this provision?
No, I cannot.
asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state if, in view of the need for an expansion in the building of houses and other development work, steps will be taken to ensure that money be made available to local authorities at a greatly reduced rate of interest.
This matter has been under examination and an announcement will be made shortly.