asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state why the Cork Corporation received no financial assistance from his Department in respect of 182 houses built by them during the financial years 1946-47, 1947-48 and 1948-49 although Limerick Corporation, which built only 148 houses during these years, received £101,675, and whether, in view of the fact that this discrepancy adversely affects the workers who occupy the houses in Cork, he will take steps to equate their position with that of the tenants of local authorities in Limerick and in the other county boroughs.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Cork Corporation Houses.
The payments to Limerick Corporation to which the Deputy refers were payments of housing grants from the Transition Development Fund. I have indicated, in reply to previous questions put by the Deputy, that no payments from the fund have been made to Cork Corporation, as final details of the finances of the housing schemes carried out in the post-emergency period are awaited. I will not be in a position to give the Deputy any information as to the amount of the grants which will be payable until final details are furnished and examined.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the city manager in Cork has given a report to the Cork Corporation that we would not be entitled to those grants, I understand, due to the fact that he charged excessive rents? Those rents were charged in 1946 with a view to focussing attention on the rising cost of wages and building. As everyone knows, the Government were accused of having a standstill Order. Would the Parliamentary Secretary inform me now whether, if those rents are reduced, the Minister would consider giving the grants to those people, considering that the Minister for Finance in his statement here last week in the House said that they were paying £667 per house in the County Borough of Cork and the County Borough of Dublin?
The Deputy is making a speech at some length.
I am asking questions. Does the Parliamentary Secretary realise that the people of Cork, the taxpayers, which includes the tenants in those houses, are asked to contribute by way of tax to give grants to the rest of the country? Are those people to be deprived of them?
I suppose the Deputy could use his influence with the Cork Corporation to have financial details of the housing schemes submitted to the Minister so that he may be able to make a decision with regard to payments from the Transition Development Fund.
He has not the same influence with Cork Corporation as the Parliamentary Secretary has with the Wexford County Council.
With your permission, Sir, I intend to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
I will consider that.