asked the Minister for Local Government if he has received a proposal from Laoighis County Council to reduce the rents of houses at Dr. Murphy Place, Portlaoighise, by 25 per cent. and, if so, if he proposes to sanction immediately the council's request in this connection.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rents of Laoighis County Council Houses.
I received from Laoighis County Council a resolution passed on the 1st October last recommending that the rents of houses at Dr. Murphy Place, Portlaoighise, should be reduced by 25 per cent., and a resolution of the 29th October, deciding not to provide the funds necessary to give effect to the reduction.
May I ask whether it is a fact that the council at their meeting on 1st October agreed to reduce by 25 per cent. the rents of these houses and that the county manager, over the heads of the county council, telephoned the Minister's Department to request them not to sanction the reduction? May I ask whether it is also a fact that the county manager used his influence to canvass certain members of the county council at the following meeting to vote against providing the money for the reduction of the rent?
I do not know anything about these alleged facts but I do know that on the 1st October the council decided to reduce the rents by 25 per cent. and 29 days later they refused to give effect to their former decision. These are the facts as I know them.
Is it not a fact that the tenants of these houses are obliged to pay one-third or one-fourth of their weekly income in rent? Does the Minister stand for that?
It is a fact that the responsibility for the fixation of rents on local authority housing schemes is placed on the local body concerned.
And 50 per cent. of it goes in interest charges.
The State has made most generous provision for them.
With your permission, I should like to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
I shall consider it.