asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware that a certain firm of builders charge excessive rents for houses built by them in Ballymun; that this firm have refused to apply for the usual grant of £40 per house for ten years which is payable in respect of these houses; that if this firm applied for the grant it would have the effect of reducing the rental charge by that amount to the tenants of the houses; and if he will state whether, in view of the unnecessary hardship inflicted on the tenants concerned, he will take steps to ensure that they will be accorded the benefits under the relevant Act.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - House Rents in Ballymun.
The answer to the first and second parts of the question is "No." In regard to the third and fourth parts of the question I can only say that under the Housing (Amendment) Act, 1948, grants may be made by housing authorities to persons erecting houses for letting but I am not empowered to require or compel any person to apply for such grants. Furthermore, there is no restriction on the rents that may be charged for houses in respect of which such grants are made.
Is the Minister in a position to state whether there would be a restriction not to charge if a grant were made available towards the erection of these houses?
Mr. Murphy
I think the answer I have given makes it clear that there is no such restriction. The other aspect of the case is that I have no power to compel the concern mentioned in the Deputy's question to apply for a grant.
Am I to understand that, when a grant is made available for building houses, the Minister will not have any discretion in calculating the rent to be charged by the owner of the houses?
Mr. Murphy
The position is that the Housing Act is operated on two sides: the grants to individuals and the grants which may be made available by local authorities to individuals who apply for such grants where the houses are constructed for letting purposes. As I understand the position it is that, under the latter side of the Act, there is no actual restriction on the amount of rent to be charged.