asked the Minister for Local Government if he will introduce proposals for legislation to facilitate local authorities in preparing schemes for the building of a more expensive type of house with a view to meeting the requirements of persons living in the country who are willing to pay the economic rent for such houses and to improving the appearance of small towns and villages.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing Schemes.
The legislative proposals suggested are not necessary.
Housing authorities are already empowered by Sections 31 and 35 of the Housing (Amendment) Act, 1952, to provide better class houses for sale or lease to persons irrespective of whether or not they are members of the working classes or agricultural labourers. Capital grants for this purpose are available to housing authorities under Section 24 of the same Act.
Is the Minister aware that it was to villages I was referring and not to the bigger towns? And is it a fact that the local councils can build better-class houses in those villages? Is the Minister aware that a number of our villages are eyesores and that there is always a group of 12 or 15 men who would avail of better houses in these places? Is he not aware that the ordinary person has no hope of acquiring a site in these villages and that only the local authorities can do so? In view of that, would he take steps to have the local authorities take over those derelict sites and eyesores and build better-class houses and so improve the appearance of these villages?
The Deputy will appreciate that the primary function of the local authority is to provide proper accommodation for working-class families living in insanitary and overcrowded or condemned dwellings and when that need is satisfied — and I understand there are still 30,000 families such as I have mentioned — then we will consider building houses for the classes mentioned by the Deputy.