asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware that houses being built by local authorities in provincial towns for working-class people are being let at high rents, such as provisional rents of 10/6, plus rates, for each of eight houses in Enniscorthy, built by the urban council; if he will consider extending the relative loans to 99 years so as to enable the rents to be moderate; finally, if he is aware that cottages built for agricultural workers in rural areas are also far beyond the means of the people concerned, and whether he proposes to take any remedial action.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Working-Class Housing.
I am aware that the basic rents of the eight houses in Enniscorthy have been fixed by the urban council at 10s. 6d. per week and that rents of this order have been fixed for schemes in other urban areas. Where capital for housing is made available by the Minister for Finance from the Local Loans Fund, the terms are very favourable, the effective rate of interest being at present 2½ per cent. The repayment period for housing loans was recently extended from 35 to 50 years and I do not think that there is a case for any further extension.
I am not aware that rents for rural cottages are beyond the means of the tenants. These rents are, in fact, comparatively low in relation to the high cost of building, by reason of the very generous subsidies contributed by the State and the ratepayers to enable the houses to be let at reasonable charges.