asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state (i) the number of local authorities that have submitted schemes for approval under Section 7 of the Housing (Amendment) Act, 1950; (ii) the number of such schemes approved, and (iii) the number of schemes to which approval has been refused; and, further, if he will state the reasons for refusal to approve, and indicate the type of scheme fixing the valuation and income ceiling which he will sanction in respect of all county councils, corporations, urban councils and other local authorities.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Authority Schemes.
The information required by the Deputy is as follows:—(i) 14 local authorities have submitted schemes for approval under Section 7 of the Housing (Amendment) Act, 1950; (ii) ten schemes have been approved in principle; (iii) approval has not been refused to any scheme. The four remaining schemes submitted have been referred back to the local authorities for further consideration.
The general considerations which might be borne in mind by local authorities in formulating these schemes were set out in a circular letter issued by my Department on the 25th January last. The Deputy will appreciate that local considerations such as availability of funds, effect on local finances and general need for the payment of such grants, will necessarily be variable factors in determining the extent to which the section may be operated in the various areas. It would not, therefore, be possible or desirable to draft a uniform scheme for general adoption by local authorities.