asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware that purchasers of houses which are eligible (a) for a grant under the Housing (Amendment) Act, 1948, and (b) for the remission of stamp duty, are in grave financial difficulties due to the fact that these concessions are taken into account to the detriment of the purchaser when the valuation for purposes of the loan is being determined and, if so, whether he will re-examine the position with a view to having this difficulty removed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Loans for Houses.
I understand that some housing authorities take the view that loans under the Small Dwellings (Acquisition) Acts should not include provision in respect of the items mentioned by the Deputy. This view is presumably based on the grounds that as the State has already given a free grant, or concessions in respect of stamp duty, it would be a duplication of financial assistance from public sources if the local housing authority were compelled, at the same time, to grant a loan including the State subsidy or any concession in respect of stamp duty.
The powers of local authorities under the Small Dwellings (Acquisition) Acts are discretionary and I have no functions which would enable me to intervene in this matter.
Is the Minister aware that the deposits required by tenants of subsidy houses under the present system are greater than if there was no grant at all? The deposits required by tenants of subsidy houses under the present system of paying the grant and giving remission of stamp duty is greater than if there was no grant at all. Is the Minister aware of that?
I am not, but I repeat that the allocation of the Small Dwellings (Acquisition) Acts loans is purely discretionary as far as the local authority is concerned and I have no function.
Would the Minister consider making the grant payable to the building contractor?
No.
Would the Minister call the local elections as soon as possible until we get new local authorities?
It is not the local authorities, it is the Small Dwellings (Acquisition) Acts.