asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state (1) whether 60 houses erected at Edenderry, Offaly, at a contract price of £1,800 each are to be let to slum dwellers; (2) the rent proposed by the county manager for these houses; (3) whether he has sanctioned the proposal of the manager or requested him to reduce the rent to a more reasonable figure, and (4) whether the full amount of the development cost of £12,676 was charged against this scheme in determining the proposed rent, and if he will also furnish particulars of the total amounts allocated from the Exchequer and from local authority funds towards the cost of this scheme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Edenderry Housing Scheme.
I am informed that it is the intention to let to slum dwellers as many of these houses as may be necessary. The rent is 15/8 per week, exclusive of rates, and was fixed by the county council. It was approved by me on the 25th November, 1949. Representations have since reached me in regard to these rents and I am asking the county manager to submit to the council a report on the application of the differential rent system to these houses. The development costs charged to the scheme amount to £9,005.
The maximum grant of £400 per house has been provisionally allocated from the Transition Development Fund. In addition, annual subsidy will be payable subject to the terms of Section 6 of the Housing (Financial and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1932. The local authority has decided to make an annual contribution of £6 10s. 0d. per house. The question of the local contribution may be subject to consideration in the event of a differential rent system being adopted.
Does the Minister suggest that the rent was fixed by the county council and not by the county manager? Is he aware that representations were made to the county manager by the Edenderry Town Commissioners for the purpose of revising the rents and that the county manager declined to revise them?
My information is that the question of introducing a differential rent system is under review.
Were they fixed by the county council or by the county manager?
By the county manager.
I thought so.